Boys golf: St. Edward's return to state an extension of sustained success

Trivia question time.

Which boys' high-school golf program in the northern Fox Valley area has been the most successful over the years?

If you said St. Edward, you get to go to the prize closet.

St. Edward is indeed the most successful boys' golf program in this area.

By a landslide.

When coach Greg Winters' bunch hits Prairie Vista golf course in Bloomington Thursday for a practice round it will be the program's 23rd appearance in a state finals tournament. St. Edward will be looking for its eighth state trophy (third place or higher). The hardware the Green Wave has brought home from state in the past includes the 1981 championship.

And this year's Green Wave team made it to Bloomington thanks to the contributions of many. Yes, senior Michael Mattas, an individual state qualifier as a junior, is regarded as the team's No. 1 golfer, but strong efforts from the likes of seniors Aaron Worf, Jason Allen, Karl Bibler and Noah Enright along with junior Steve Poremba have made St. Edward's first trip to state in five years possible.

Case in point is Monday's Class 1A sectional at Prairie Vista in Byron where Mattas was St. Edward's third-counting score with an 84 on a less-than-ideal weather day. But there were Worf (81) and Poremba (83) to pick up the slack.

"Michael is a really good player who has played well all year," said Winters, in his 12th season at St. Edward. "He didn't have his best day but other players stepped up. They showed they can pick up the slack. It's a unique situation where your No. 1 isn't playing his best but the rest of the team is there to help him out."

Exhibit B: Bibler provided a huge boost at the Westminster Christian regional. It was his fifth score that broke the tie for third place in the team standings.

Mattas, a 4-year varsity performer, lauded the efforts of Poremba in particular. Poremba had been sidelined earlier in the season by illness, but came back to turn in counting scores at both the regional and sectional.

"Steve was our MVP at sectionals," said Mattas, who noted one factor in the team's improvement came from several players practicing and playing together at Elgin Country Club over the summer. "He shot five below his average and really stepped it up."

Winters, a St. Edward alum and a member of the first Green Wave boys' golf team that brought home state hardware in 1977 (third place), noted the group dealt with injuries and illness on and off throughout the season. St. Edward was fourth in the Metro Suburban Conference West Division during the dual season but showed potential in a victory at The Highlands against East Division standout Chicago Christian. The Green Wave ended up tied for second in the conference tournament.

"We struggled a little bit for part of the year," said. Winters, making his third state appearance as a player or coach. "I would say we had at least one of our Top 4 missing in 25 percent of the tournaments we've played this year. When we played teams in our division such as Glenbard South, IC (Catholic Prep) and Wheaton Academy, we were missing people. But we knew we would be OK if we could just wait and get everybody back at full strength."

Worf added: "When others have struggled, others have stepped up. It gives us a lot of confidence knowing guys can produce scores if others are having a rough day. People getting injured and being sick is part of the game. We knew someone else had to step up. Guys posted good scores at the regional and sectional and we are moving on because of it."

Winters, a family medicine doctor in Elgin, isn't one to worry about what teams await the Green Wave in Bloomington. "We basically know about the two other teams from our sectional (Chicago Christian and Byron)," said Winters who has coached four individual state qualifiers (Mattas, his sons, Brad and Eric, and Michael Holevas, who was part of the 2010 state team) and two state teams.

"I did hear the boys looking up the other sectionals on the bus on the way back. All you have to do is get there and put the ball in the hole. It doesn't make a difference who you are playing. Everybody is playing the same course. You are playing yourself and the course. That's what is important."

For Mattas it's important for him to have some company this time around.

"I went down as an individual last year," he said. "I saw all the teams there having so much fun. I told everybody that's what I want to do. I want to enjoy it with everybody. We're going to enjoy it. The pressure is gone. We don't have to qualify for anything anymore. Looking at the scores I think we can compete with these teams if we all play well. I really believe we can compete for a state championship. We're not that far off from these other teams. I'm confident we can do well."

Worf was still in middle school when St. Edward last went to state and brought home a third-place trophy in 2010. "St. Edward has had some really good teams in the past," he said. "Coach said we have the same capabilities as the team five years ago and can show it down there. We have the ability. Hopefully we can make some noise."

And add another layer to an already storied boys' golf program.

Mike Miazga has been writing about sports in the Fox Valley for more than two decades. Email him at mjm890@gmail.com.