MP golf teams ready to roar

The Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club will host its first meet today as the Panther golf season gets underway. Both teams return a handful of golfers from their varsity six last year and both look to be among the better teams in the conference.

The Panther girls will be returning four of their top six players from last year. Anni Liechty, the No. 1 player from last season, will be back after missing a state meet berth by just one stroke last season. Joining her will be Elli Liechty, Michal Wohlleber, Melody Miller and Grace Sheetz, all of which were in the varsity six at different points in the season. Also returning is Ryann Davidson, who will be mult-sporting it for the golf and soccer teams.

The Panthers lost Keri Herr and Tori Witthoft to graduation last year. Herr battled injuries all last season but was slated as a top-two golfer on the team. Witthoft was a perrenial varsity player as well.

Much like the girls' team, the boys bring back the bulk of their roster from last season. Trace White, Jake Moffett, Bailey Shelledy, Rhett Zeglen and Brevin Wilson will all return, meaning the Panthers will have five of their top six golfers from 2018.

The lone varsity graduate for the Panthers last season was Austin Buckert. There are a handful of players who will be battling to take Buckert's spot in the varsity lineup.

The Mt. Pleasant girls will be able to show what they've got today (Tuesday) when they host two Southeast Conference rivals, Fairfield and Keokuk. That meet begins at 4 p.m., at the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club.

The boys' team will be at an SEC triangular on Thursday, April 4, when they head to Washington to take on Keokuk and the hosting Demons.