Kuehn is now at the helm of Cedar Catholic’s golf team
HARTINGTON — Now it’s Rick Kuehn’s turn.
The new Cedar Catholic head boys golf coach has taken the reins from long-time team mentor, Mike Johnson, who steered the program to the tune of many top individuals and the 2009 state team championship, along with plenty of other top performances.
The Trojans return to the course after seeing last year wiped out by the coronavirus, but it also took away a final chance to play for Ted Bengston and Mason Schaefer.
It appears Kuehn should be able to pick up where the team left off and he has 20 golfers on board to work with.
“The outlook is good,” Kuehn said. “It has been a slow start due to the success of the basketball team and the weather. The team does look a little rusty due to the fact they did not get any competition from last year, but they are young and quick learners.”
Senior Riley Kuehn is back after finishing second at the 2019 state meet while classmates Mack Kuehn and Carson Becker were also a part of the 2019 state qualifying Trojans squad.
“We do have a good nucleus of returning starters from 2019,” Coach Kuehn said. “It’s way too early to tell though. Having the luxury of 20 golfers on a team makes the competition level rise for the remaining spots.”
The team consists of other top potential golfers like senior Charlie Dendinger, juniors Kurtis Kathol and Carter Klug, sophomores Cazden Christensen, Jay Steffen, Isaac Kuehn and Westen Heine and freshmen Sam Kuehn and Harrison Kuehn.
Others that might make a move on a top five spot in the lineup are seniors Caden Heithold and Kejuan Freemont, junior Connor Hochstein, sophomores Keaton Steffen, Alex Christensen, Jaelen Lammers and Dayton Kadavy and freshman Carsen Albers.
Riley Kuehn is feeling good about the campaign and confident about his prospects. People will have to get used to a lot of newcomers, though, including a new head coach.
“It is definitely going to be different with the new head coach,” he said. “I feel the team is looking pretty good right now. We are a little rough around the edges since it’s been awhile since we’ve been together practicing. I am super confident that we will be ready to go once things start rolling.”
The world is beginning to look a lot more normal now that the spread of COVID has eased, he said.
“It is nice to know with the vaccine coming out, we don’t have to worry about where we go and just being able to keep the season alive. It is nice to be out there with the team and being assured we will have a season as long as things stay pretty normal. That’s what I have been worried about for a while.”
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