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ZANESVILLE — The team titles were decided long before the Muskingum Valley League postseason tournament on Sept. 19 at Jaycees, with River View and Maysville each taking four-match leads into the one-day event.
A hard-fought battle for the Player of the Year were another matter, however.
In conditions more suited for busting broncos in the wild west than playing golf, River View freshman Colton Gress fired a 3-under-par 68 and classmate Clark Frischen a 69 to help the Black Bears secure a 33-0 league season.
Gress finished with a (minus) 1.5 match performance rating, which the MVL uses to determine its Player of the Year and All-MVL selections.
More: The first edition of 2025 high school football statistics in the Muskingum Valley are here
More: River View volleyball added another milestone on Sept. 18 | Top performers
A negative MPR rating is a rare feat — an under-par average for the season — but the battle-tested Gress has proved to be an equally rare kind of player. He won consecutive Zanesville District Golf Association Junior Amateur crowns before his freshman year even got started.
He shot 4-under on his opening nine. Coupled with his brother Gavin struggling to a 42 on the same side, it all but ended any drama for Player of the Year.
Dolan's 68, which included a 3-under showing on his final four holes, helped him jump Gavin for second. Gavin finished with 75 to place third in the MPR race.
"I've performed really well in these things and I really love Jaycees," Colton Gress said. "It just sets up really well. It's a nice, short course and you get a lot of wedge shots. And I putted really well."
How well? Try 25 putts in 18 holes. His father and coach, Chad Gress, said Colton "keeps plodding along."
"He had a strong summer," River View coach Chad Gress said. "His last two summers have been strong. And he's not the longest hitter yet and is still pretty young, but he's mentally tough. He keeps it in play and the short game is good.
"When you're not in trouble much off the tee you don't have very many big numbers," Chad Gress added. "So he keeps the big numbers off the card and is just steady."
In this case, his success came during one of the most competitive seasons in school history, one that saw his Black Bears and Maysville, which rolled to the Small School Division title, break the 18-hole school records multiple times.
It's that type of depth at the sectional and district level that gives the Black Bears, who have essentially used the Gress boys, senior Caleb Kline and Frischen as scores in every match. The drop-off to fifth and sixth scores is considerable.
Their mettle was tested this week when Gavin fought strep throat. With the Division II East District tournament starting on Sept. 22 at River Greens and Cadiz Country Club, the pressure heats up even more.
"Our 5 and 6 are young and just getting started (in golf) so you've got four and you can't have a mistake, a bad day or a sick player," Chad Gress said. "That's our big thing going into sectionals and districts. We've got no room for errors."
Maysville, perhaps the league's deepest team, saw its depth tested when No. 4 man Ethan Wright withdrew due to a back injury in the match. The Panthers struggled to a 317 — a score good enough to win this event in past seasons, but some 15 shots less than their season average.
The Panthers still got a 71 from steely senior Gator Nichols, who fired a 3-under 32 on the front nine at EagleSticks during a dual against River View two days prior. He was eighth in season MPR.
As for Dolan, he finished as MRP runner-up after a string of under-par rounds dating to last week. His round at Jaycees got him to .143, and he had plenty of help to support the team effort with Cooper Briggs and Hayden Gensor shooting 76 and Will Hubal 77 in a 297 — John Glenn's best round of the season.
The Muskies took 33 shots off of their preseason MVL tourney round, among the biggest improvements since the league divided the tournament format.
"I think a lot of people underestimate our league," Dolan said. "I don't think it's really seen as much as a powerhouse of a league to, like, the Columbus leagues and everything. But I think we've got a pretty good core group of guys, especially this year."
John Glenn and Maysville will be among the teams fighting River View and Indian Valley, which broke 280 at the Inter-Valley Conference Tournament, for four district spots.
"After we shot 300 at Cambridge Country Club (on Sept. 15), the guys saw that and I think they kind of had an added focus," Dolan said. "Especially Cooper Briggs, he is starting to come around really well lately."
John Glenn finished just four shots back of River View and was 13 shots better than third-place Sheridan, which got a 75 from Noah Wamer and 76 from Wyatt Satterfield. Liam Gutridge (79) and Owen Cains (80) also shot 80 or better. Both teams were represented in the 2024 state tournament.
West M was five back of Maysville at 322 as Nick Anton posted 75, Owen Lambert 81 and Kyle Porter 82; New Lex was at 335 as Hunter Heavener had 79 and Rocco Stanton 81.
Cale Preston had 77 and Xander Smalley had 79 for Tri-Valley (348), Seth Jones had 81 and Briden Hall 84 for Crooksville (353) and Kam Winnett shot 81 and Tre Gray 92 for Meadowbrook (368). Branysn Dawson's 82 and Jerison Spain's 90 paced Coshocton (377).
[email protected]; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Colton Gress earns top honors as River View, Maysville win MVL titles
Continue reading...
A hard-fought battle for the Player of the Year were another matter, however.
In conditions more suited for busting broncos in the wild west than playing golf, River View freshman Colton Gress fired a 3-under-par 68 and classmate Clark Frischen a 69 to help the Black Bears secure a 33-0 league season.
Gress finished with a (minus) 1.5 match performance rating, which the MVL uses to determine its Player of the Year and All-MVL selections.
More: The first edition of 2025 high school football statistics in the Muskingum Valley are here
More: River View volleyball added another milestone on Sept. 18 | Top performers
Gress joins elite company
A negative MPR rating is a rare feat — an under-par average for the season — but the battle-tested Gress has proved to be an equally rare kind of player. He won consecutive Zanesville District Golf Association Junior Amateur crowns before his freshman year even got started.
He shot 4-under on his opening nine. Coupled with his brother Gavin struggling to a 42 on the same side, it all but ended any drama for Player of the Year.
Dolan's 68, which included a 3-under showing on his final four holes, helped him jump Gavin for second. Gavin finished with 75 to place third in the MPR race.
"I've performed really well in these things and I really love Jaycees," Colton Gress said. "It just sets up really well. It's a nice, short course and you get a lot of wedge shots. And I putted really well."
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How well? Try 25 putts in 18 holes. His father and coach, Chad Gress, said Colton "keeps plodding along."
"He had a strong summer," River View coach Chad Gress said. "His last two summers have been strong. And he's not the longest hitter yet and is still pretty young, but he's mentally tough. He keeps it in play and the short game is good.
"When you're not in trouble much off the tee you don't have very many big numbers," Chad Gress added. "So he keeps the big numbers off the card and is just steady."
In this case, his success came during one of the most competitive seasons in school history, one that saw his Black Bears and Maysville, which rolled to the Small School Division title, break the 18-hole school records multiple times.
It's that type of depth at the sectional and district level that gives the Black Bears, who have essentially used the Gress boys, senior Caleb Kline and Frischen as scores in every match. The drop-off to fifth and sixth scores is considerable.
Their mettle was tested this week when Gavin fought strep throat. With the Division II East District tournament starting on Sept. 22 at River Greens and Cadiz Country Club, the pressure heats up even more.
"Our 5 and 6 are young and just getting started (in golf) so you've got four and you can't have a mistake, a bad day or a sick player," Chad Gress said. "That's our big thing going into sectionals and districts. We've got no room for errors."
Maysville, perhaps the league's deepest team, saw its depth tested when No. 4 man Ethan Wright withdrew due to a back injury in the match. The Panthers struggled to a 317 — a score good enough to win this event in past seasons, but some 15 shots less than their season average.
The Panthers still got a 71 from steely senior Gator Nichols, who fired a 3-under 32 on the front nine at EagleSticks during a dual against River View two days prior. He was eighth in season MPR.
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John Glenn peaking when it counts
As for Dolan, he finished as MRP runner-up after a string of under-par rounds dating to last week. His round at Jaycees got him to .143, and he had plenty of help to support the team effort with Cooper Briggs and Hayden Gensor shooting 76 and Will Hubal 77 in a 297 — John Glenn's best round of the season.
The Muskies took 33 shots off of their preseason MVL tourney round, among the biggest improvements since the league divided the tournament format.
"I think a lot of people underestimate our league," Dolan said. "I don't think it's really seen as much as a powerhouse of a league to, like, the Columbus leagues and everything. But I think we've got a pretty good core group of guys, especially this year."
John Glenn and Maysville will be among the teams fighting River View and Indian Valley, which broke 280 at the Inter-Valley Conference Tournament, for four district spots.
"After we shot 300 at Cambridge Country Club (on Sept. 15), the guys saw that and I think they kind of had an added focus," Dolan said. "Especially Cooper Briggs, he is starting to come around really well lately."
You must be registered for see images attach
John Glenn finished just four shots back of River View and was 13 shots better than third-place Sheridan, which got a 75 from Noah Wamer and 76 from Wyatt Satterfield. Liam Gutridge (79) and Owen Cains (80) also shot 80 or better. Both teams were represented in the 2024 state tournament.
Anton leads other notables
West M was five back of Maysville at 322 as Nick Anton posted 75, Owen Lambert 81 and Kyle Porter 82; New Lex was at 335 as Hunter Heavener had 79 and Rocco Stanton 81.
Cale Preston had 77 and Xander Smalley had 79 for Tri-Valley (348), Seth Jones had 81 and Briden Hall 84 for Crooksville (353) and Kam Winnett shot 81 and Tre Gray 92 for Meadowbrook (368). Branysn Dawson's 82 and Jerison Spain's 90 paced Coshocton (377).
[email protected]; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Colton Gress earns top honors as River View, Maysville win MVL titles
Continue reading...
