Minnick and Krewson lead Vikings to League Win Over Phantoms

If there is one word that describes girls golf coach Leslie Lewis’s enthusiasm as she approaches the season and her young Vikings squad, it would be infectious.

It is that infectious spirit and energy that has built a team of more than 20 players and is now a perennial Pioneer Athletic Conference contender, as well as a squad that has set a team goal of a district appearance as a measuring stick of this season’s success.

“I am thrilled to have so many girls come out for the team,” said Lewis. “It is a challenge to get everybody involved since there are so many different skill levels on our team. But it is a good problem to have.”

Perkiomen Valley is in the unique situation of having no seniors on its squad. A core group of six juniors, one sophomore and one freshman will lead the brown and orange into the fray of the PAC-10 schedule against powerhouses like Methacton, Spring-Ford and Boyertown.

Jenny Minnick, 16, set the tone early for the Vikings as she has assumed the well-deserved role of the No. 1 player, pitting her against the very best that the Pac-10 has to offer.

Alongside playing partner junior Sarah Hart, Minnick will seek to provide the leadership expected of the top player on any team. Following the early match results, Minnick seems well up to the task.

“I love golf. I love the fact that no matter how hard you try, you will never achieve perfection,” said Minnick. “You have to push yourself to do your absolute best every time you are on the course and I love that.”

Fellow Perk Valley juniors Berlynn Hall, Cassie Russo, Alyvia Dugan and Briana Krewson will be depended on to support the lead duo and put up the best scores possible in the “keep five” format of the PAC-10. There is also sure to be an impact felt around the league from  sophomore Carissa McGlocklin and freshman Audrey Arneo.

“I have seen such an improvement in golf skills in the last few years,” added Lewis. “All of these girls buy into the team concept so well; they support each other and encourage each other to put in the work especially in the short game. Our sixth through eighth spots always play so hard because there are people battling to take their spots.”

On Wednesday, the Vikings welcomed the Phantoms to Limerick Golf Club, their home digs, and helped by a round of 54 by Briana Krewson, in which she recorded three pars and drained a long one-put on the par-five seventh hole, handed Phoenixville a 247-265 defeat.

Minnick and Hart both recorded two pars each as their rounds of 45 and 46 respectively paced the Viking to their second straight league victory. Also scoring for Perkiomen Valley was Berlynn Hall (50) and Alyvia Dugan (52), while McGlocklin got a half a point, as she equaled Krewson’s circuit of 54.

“I have been playing seriously since my freshman year,” added Minnick, who finally beat her father Curt last week for the first time.
“I really wasn’t enjoying soccer anymore and my entire family plays golf. My dad has been so supportive of me, and since I have been using a swing coach from Bulle Rock in Maryland, I have really seen my game improve. Once you have the swing down, it’s all about making shots.”

Countless hours on the driving range and practice green for Minnick and her teammates have led to the Viking asserting themselves as one of the teams to be in the hunt for the league title as well as compete for a district qualifying spot.

“I am very lucky to have such a group of great kids,” said Lewis. “My girls are talking about Ivy League schools. Not only do they excel on the links, they are very bright. Having girls like this on my team makes my job not only very easy, but a lot of fun.

"I am looking forward to helping my girls achieve the goals they have set for them selves individually and as a team.”

Next match for Perkiomen Valley is on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Linfield National Golf Club vs. Spring-Ford at 3 p.m.

Phoenixville             ( 265)

Olivia Farrell                 48

Liz Sitkowski                52

Ashley Sierzega            54

Amanda Sierzega            55

Danielle DiGeralimo            55

Perkiomen Valley   (247)

Jenny Minnick              45

Sarah Hart                    46

Berlynn Hall                  50

Alyvia Dugan                52

Briana Krewson            54

Carissa McGlocklin            54