Greenwich Cardinals Golf Team Off To A Strong Start In 2018

The following Greenwich High School Golf Team round up was written by Ron Ropiak:

Jeff Santilli stands to the side on the driving range, arms folded, and silently watches his star player effortlessly launch one perfect shot after another.

Santilli has been coaching the Greenwich Cardinals Golf Team for 19 years, and he knows, through experience and long days, when he has something special on his hands.

“Jackson Fretty is an excellent player who works very hard on improving his skills, and he has grown up reading about all the talented golfers in this town as his motivation. He’s been a motivator for the other talented members of the cardinal program, and everyone is working hard to improve their skills and become overall better players.”

The 17-year old Fretty won the Hearst Connecticut Media Group’s Golf MVP last season while leading the Cardinals to the FCIAC Championship and 2nd-place in the CIAC. But Fretty is just one of four talented juniors on a Greenwich team brimming with talent.

The other juniors-Billy Nail, Chris Magliocco, and Ben Ropiak-have all grown bigger and stronger since last spring’s tournaments, and have grown even more determined in their quest to be the best they can be.

“There’s no doubt about it,” says Ropiak. “Jackson is the guy, and his talent and work-ethic are unquestioned. But he makes Billy, Chris and me work even harder because not only do we want the team to do well but we want to do well individually.”

And, so far, the team is doing very well. The Cardinals have started the season 8-0, and the scoresheets reveal a balanced squad where one player can vault to the top of the leaderboard when some others may be having an off day.

“That’s what I want,” says Santilli. “This squad is talented enough that one player can be a medalist when somebody else can be struggling. But while the physical talent is there, we need to continue to improve daily on the mental aspect of the game.”

The mental aspect played a big part in Greenwich’s victory at the Brunswick Invitational, held this past Thursday at the legendary Round Hill Club in Greenwich. For the second straight year in a row, the Cardinals were able to win the tournament, this time besting the second-place Brunswick squad by the slimmest of margins, 307-to-308. Bergen Catholic came in third with an aggregate score of 313, and New Canaan in fourth with 330. Fretty took home medalist honor with a one-over par low-round of 72, while Magliocco came in second for Greenwich by scoring 76. After the match, Magliocco said staying calm and focused was the key to his number.

“There haven’t been a lot of opportunities to play in this kind of weather, so that was enjoyable. And even though the wind was blowing at times, we had to remember to take advantage of what the course was giving us.”

Back on the driving range, Santilli watches his players, but doesn’t say anything to them. He sees the look of determination on their faces and doesn’t want to disturb their concentration.

“I’ve been lucky to have some extremely talented players over the years. But what made them the best was the mental toughness, focus and concentration. If the guys on this team want to be thought of in the same category as those other guys, we have to limit the mental errors that costs strokes.Bad swings happen and are expected. It’s what you do next that counts. This team is talented but what goes on between the ears will make all the difference. I feel everyone is still a bit rusty with the late start to spring, but I’m positive we are heading in the right direction.”

That rust was caused by the never-ending snow and rain and chilly temperatures, which made it even tougher for the players to get into match shape.

“I mean, it seems every time we went out there at the beginning the winds were howling or the greens were choppy,” says Nail. “But Coach reminded us that all the teams were facing the same conditions, and just to get over it.”

The Greenwich varsity squad rounds out with senior Jake Pennella and talented sophomore Tyler Sudell. Pennella and Sudell battle just as hard as the four juniors to make it onto the top of the leaderboard.

Over the next few weeks the Cardinals have a demanding schedule, as they take on top-rated teams from New Canaan, Darien, and Westport. Plus, Greenwich will be hosting the first Greenwich Invitational on Thursday, May 3, which will take place at the Greenwich Country Club.

“I’m excited about the Invitational and grateful to Greenwich Country Club, staff, greens committee and especially the Fretty family for hosting and organizing this event,” Santilli says. “We will be playing the teams from Brunswick, Fairfield Prep, and Hamden. All good, talented squads, and we expect a great match on a beautiful golf course.”

It’s a short but exciting season for all the teams in the FCIAC, and as the temperatures creep higher and the greens become firmer, all high-school golf fans can expect some competitive matches from the teams who don’t want their good walks spoiled.

Photo 1: From left, Greenwich High School Golf Coach Jeff Santilli, Chris Magliocco, Ben Ropiak, Billy Nail, Jackson Fretty, Jake Pennella; Photo 2: Greenwich Cardinals Jackson Fretty with Brunswick Invitational Medalist Honor. Photo credit: Ron Ropiak

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