Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Friday, Jun. 26, 2009

ALL-WHATCOM COUNTY BOYS' GOLF TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MATT RAWITZER

School: Squalicum

Year: Senior

What he did: Won a state title for the second consecutive year, this time taking the Class 2A state championship after winning the Class 3A crown the year before ... Shot an opening round 64 at state and followed with 72 to shoot 136 and win by one stroke ... Also won the Northwest District title ... Finished second at the Northwest Conference Championship tournament ... Won his third Birger Solberg Cup ... Will be playing at the University of Idaho next season.

Coach's quote: "Matt's just a pretty remarkable guy. It's really inspiring to watch him play. It's hard to find any real holes in his game at the high school level. He always keeps his composure no matter the situation. Whether it's a putt for par or a putt for birdie he's going to treat it the same way." - Jeff Tetrick

COACH OF THE YEAR

RUSS DORR

School: Lynden

What he did: Coached Lynden to the Class 2A state title for the second time in the last nine years ... Helped the Lions to an undefeated season in Northwest Conference play as well as a win at the Northwest Conference Championship tournament ... Also won the Northwest District crown ... Had three golfers place in the top 31 at state with Will Holdridge leading the way in fourth ... Team had one of the most dominating runs in the program's history.

Coach's quote: "Russ is such a great coach. He did a great job with that group of kids. They all got along so well. They were such a great group. They deserved to win that state title. We were at every tournament together this year and I had the great pleasure of watching some very good golf with him." - Squalicum coach Jeff Tetrick

WILL HOLDRIDGE

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

What he did: Placed fourth at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting a 70 on the final day to finish at 142 ... Helped Lynden to a state team title and a Northwest District crown ... Also was a major reason Lynden finished the season undefeated in Northwest Conference play ... Took first at Northwest Conference Championship tournament ... Was second at Birger Solberg Cup tournament .... Will play at New Mexico State University next season.

Coach's quote: "Will set the standard for our program. There have been a handful of great young golfers who have come through our program who can be identified with just one name, and he is one of them." - Russ Dorr

KYLE CRABTREE

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

What he did: Helped Lynden to a Class 2A state team title by finishing tied for 10th at the state tournament after shooting 149 ... Tied for fourth place at the Northwest District tournament, also helping the Lions to a district crown ... Played a big role in helping Lynden to an undefeated season in Northwest Conference play ... Tied for third at the Northwest Conference Championship tournament and 13th at the Bill Egbers Memorial tourney ... Also a very good student, he has a walk-on opportunity at Western Washington University.

Coach's quote: "Kyle would have been our No. 1 for four years if it wasn't for Will (Holdridge). And he'd probably be the No. 1 on any other team in the conference except for Squalicum. He never disappointed. The best is yet to come for him." - Russ Dorr

JAMES HIESTER

School: Bellingham

Year: Junior

What he did: Played perhaps his best golf or the season at the state tournament, finishing seventh after firing a 146 over the two-day event ... Tied for eighth place at the Northwest District tournament ... Shot 76 at the Northwest Conference Championship tournament to finish in the top 10 ... Helped Red Raiders to a runner-up finish at the Bill Egbers Memorial Tournament ... Placed fifth at the Birger Solberg tourney with a 78.

Coach's quote: "James provided the stability that we needed and helped get our team heading in the right direction. I think he illustrates where we are going as a program. He was a strong performer for us this year." - James Everett

SEAN MOON

School: Sehome

Year: Freshman

What he did: Emerged as one of Sehome's top golfers in his first season of varsity play ... Shot a 77 at the Northwest Conference Championship Tournament ... Consistently shot around 80 in matches and tournaments and often dipped into the 70s ... Named the team's Most Valuable Player and its Most Inspirational ... Helped the Mariners to a sixth place finish in NWC play ... Sehome coach Stu Gorski calls him the most dedicated golfer he's ever coached.

Coach's quote: "It's really unusual to have a freshman come in and accomplish the things he was able to accomplish. He was a walking practice schedule. If you didn't make him leave practice he would be out there chipping and putting all night and day. He's a special player." - Stu Gorski

DUSTIN OSHIRO

School: Mount Baker

Year: Junior

What he did: Emerged as one of the best boys' golfers in Whatcom County after spending the offseason working hard to improve ... Placed 25th at the Class 2A state meet after shooting a two-day 156 ... Finished third at the Birger Solberg Cup Tournament ... Won medalist honors in three matches this season with one coming in an NWC match ... Had a 79.3 scoring average ... Also qualified for the Bill Egbers Memorial tournament.

Coach's quote: "He is a very dedicated golfer and has worked extremely hard to get where he is. I know he will continue to improve his skills. Dustin is a natural born leader and his ability to lead by example has really helped us build the golf program at Baker." - Chad Hoidal

ERIC HERSMAN

School: Lynden

Year: Senior

What he did: Finished 31st at the Class 2A state tournament after shooting a 158 over the two-day event and helped Lynden win a state team title ... Played perhaps his best golf of the season at the Northwest District Tournament in finishing third with a 111 ... Shot an 82 at the Northwest Conference Championships ... Finished tied for fifth at the Birger Solberg Cup after firing a 78 ... Helped Lynden to an undefeated season in Northwest Conference play ... Will walk-on at Skagit Valley College.

Coach's quote: "It was really great to see Eric finish so strong. He played his best golf at the district tournament and that really gave him a lot of confidence. He was a good leader for us and a great golfer." - Russ Dorr

DUSTAN WILSON

School: Mount Baker

Year: Junior

What he did: Helped Mount Baker to a runner-up finish in the Northwest Conference team standings with solid play throughout the season ... He and teammate Dustin Oshiro often traded top scores for the Mountaineers and the two helped Mount Baker to its first league win in school history this season ... Shot a 76 at the Northwest Conference Championships, including a hole-in-one on the fifth hole at North Bellingham Golf Course ... Had a 79.3 scoring average.

Coach's quote: "Dustan has one of the greatest work ethics you will find in an individual. He is the first one at the golf course and the last one to leave every day. He has put in a lot of time and energy and it shows in how much his game improved over the season." - Chad Hoidal

Honorable Mention

Jake Hoelzle, Ferndale

Taylor Carr, Ferndale

Steven Rose, Bellingham

Keegan Bruce, Bellingham

Chris Collins, Blaine

Marcus Yu, Blaine

Ben Vandenberg, Lynden

Sean Morris, Sehome

D.J. Peterson, Mount Baker

Andrew Lamont, Mount Baker

Thomas Hyman, Squalicum

Nate Wendt, Lynden Christian