The Lexington High golf team is yet to take the course in a competitive manner this fall, but already the Minutemen have dealt with adversity in the form of the injury bug.
LHS has been bitten hard in the preseason, as two of its top golfers have already suffered injuries. Jeff Lang, who competed in the Div. 1 Individual State Tournament last year and was the surefire No. 1 for the Minutemen, and Jason Tzannes, the winner of a Junior PGA Tour event this summer, are both down, and possibly lost for the season.
Tzannes recently underwent reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, making it all but certain he won’t compete this season.
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But Minuteman coach Rick Thibeault has been coaching too long – so long he can only estimate his time of service as “a few decades” – to let a few injuries get in the way of preparing for another fall season. Earlier this week, Thibeault said Lexington will battle through the injuries.
“We still have plenty of players and (the injuries are) making opportunities for other players,” Thibeault said.
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While overcoming the injuries to Lang and Tzannes will certainly be a challenge, Thibeault didn’t sound particularly concerned during a telephone interview earlier this week. He said the Minutemen who were on the course for the first week of practice had already showed him a lot.
Thibeault began preseason practices in a stroke play format, he said, in order to pare down the list of prospective players. Match play will ultimately determine who makes the teams and where they will fall within the starting lineup.
After just a week of practices, Thibeault was eager to get the 2011 season going.
“We look forward to it (the start of the season),” Thibeault said. “And that’s the best I can say. Right now, we’re still putting the team together.”
Lexington was prepared to bring back six players that competed in the Div. 1 Sectional Tournament last season, but the injuries to Lang and Tzannes drop that number to four.
LEXINGTON GOLF
Coach: Rick Thibeault (a number of decades; “They all roll together,” he said.)
League: Middlesex League
Last Year: Finished seventh at Div. 1 Sectional Tournament
Key to Success: Overcoming the injuries to two of the Minutemen’s top golfers will ultimately determine how they fare this fall. It will be up to the replacements to step up and lead Lexington into the Div. 1 Sectional in mid-October.
Game to Watch: The Middlesex League adds two new schools this season – Wilmington High and Arlington High. LHS takes on Wilmington in the season opener on Sept. 7.
Coach’s Take: “I’m pleased with the quality of players we have just hoping they can play steady golf.”
