Spring has sprung. The return of spring sports comes with the coming of a new season. Amongst others, the Warriors boys golf team is heating up for yet another run at the state championship. This season will mark the third for Jered Hellman as the head coach. In the two years Hellman has served as head coach, he has seen several division one commitments, broken several school and state scoring records, and won two state championships. With all this, how will they top it this year? Coach Hellman is optimistic after wrapping up tryouts early this week.
“The tryouts went well,” Hellman said. “We had to adapt as the weather turned on us so we spent a lot of time in our Swede Center. On Monday, we were able to get the boys out who hadn’t played 9 holes yet and were able to select the team Monday night.”
These historic couple of seasons can not be mentioned without acknowledging senior Trevor Gutschewski. After transferring to Westside for his sophomore season, Trevor won the USGA Junior Amateur, secured a spot in the 2025 US Open, signed to play Division I golf at the University of Florida, broke the metro tournament record, and won back-to-back state championships. This year Gutschewski continues at the number one spot for the Warriors. Track records aside, what does Gutschewski see himself and his team accomplishing this year?
“A run at state,” Gutschewski said. “There isn’t much to it other than that. Almost our entire team is returning. This is a group of guys who have proved themselves in the past and I’m sure they can do it again. There are several seniors on the team this year, myself included, so I think we’re all just trying to stay focused and have a little fun for our final season together.”
While Gutschewski has a very impressive resume, the team as a whole has an equally impressive list of accomplishments. In Hellman’s 2 years as a head coach, he has led a team that has broken the all-time team scoring record 3 times, with the lowest score currently sitting at 277. That same score of 277, also tied the all time scoring record in state history. Hellman looks to continue to break the mold this season, with some new coaching focal points.
“I am always looking for new ways to improve our team and Westside golf,” Hellman said. “I attended the National high school coaches conference in Orlando with 100 coaches from across the county. Coach Schroeder and myself took a lot of great ideas that we will implement this season.”
Although Hellman will be bringing in some new coaching techniques, it is very obvious that what he has been doing in his past two seasons as head coach has worked very well. After all, if it isn’t broken don’t fix it.
“We will continue to make practice extremely competitive and chart and keep data on everything that the boys do,” Hellman said. “We have a road map that has been successful, but that doesn’t mean that we do not adjust or adapt to what “this” team needs without the goal of being the most prepared and confident team leading into Metro, Districts, and State.”
This year there will be four seniors in the playing pool for the Warriors, which is a relatively high amount for a golf team. What is almost more astonishing however, was Westside’s 2024 team that had two freshmen playing in the top 5 on varsity. This season, Knox Pocras and Tye Treadwell will be sophomores in the same situation they were in last year. With that being said, season goals for the duo will be similar as well.
“Tye and I both understand the importance of competing at the level we are given our age,” Pocras said. “Last year coming into the program we had a great group of upperclassmen that were available to take us in and make the transition a little easier. This season we’re just going to try and continue to be the best golfers we can be. We’re just trying to win as much as we can and playing the best golf possible.”
This season, the team is planning on putting words into action and completing their three-peat. How do they plan to do this? Hellman and his players have a very clear mental outline of what they want to do and how they will bring their trophy back to the Swede center in May.
“Our team goals will be to win Metro, Districts, and the state tournament,” Hellman said. “This squad has a chance to win their 3rd metro title in a row, 3rd district, and 3rd state title. On the Wall of the Swede, it says, “Leaving a Legacy.” Trevor Gutschewski, Christopher Whittle, and Leo Kroeger will be our core group of seniors who have a chance to leave Westside Golf as 3 time state champions. Win or lose; these boys will leave no chance in their preparations, dedication to our school, community, and their brothers and coaches on the team. The quest for 3 has begun.”
