Bilby Back as Captain of The Fourth Annual All-Valley Golf Team

We made it!

After months of wondering if COVID would allow us to complete the 2020 golf season, the cards are all turned in and the trophies have been handed out.

If just getting the season in wasn't enough, a plethora of golfers from the area not only participated but flourished on the golf course.

They enjoyed the campaign and some wrap up a memorable four years of high school golf, which led them to triumphant performances and friendships that will last a lifetime.

With that said, we introduce to you the Fourth Annual All-Valley Golf Team.

Captain

Ryan Bilby

Senior, Brooke

What a ride it's been for Brooke's Ryan Bilby. For the second year in a row, Bilby captured the W.Va. Class AAA State title and is the captain of the All-Valley team. After four incredible years, Bilby has made a strong case that he belongs on the Mount Rushmore of golfers to go through the Ohio Valley. The accolades speak for themselves.

This year Bilby won his second state championship, his third OVAC title -- where he shot a bogey-free round -- and his third regional crown. Even as a freshman, Bilby came on the scene with all-state and All-OVAC performances.

His late coach Ron Ujcich Jr. had nothing but great things to say about him after his state championship run.

"It's incredible. I'm just very proud of him," Ujcich said after the state tournament. "Looking back 10-15 years from now is something that he can be very proud of. I've been here long enough and have seen some great golfers and you can throw a ton of names out there but he's right there with them.

"This is so well deserved."

Bilby is also the only player to be listed on every All-Valley Golf team since it began four years ago and he wouldn't change it for the world.

"I wouldn't give it back for anything and I'd love to do it all over again," Bilby said. "These were the best four years of my life. I made so many new friends, I played so many new golf courses. It's just the best four years of my life."

Ryan Dembiczak

Senior, Linsly

The spotlight could not affect Linsly's Ryan Dembiczak at the OVAC Tournament.

The senior only needed 28 putts to get around the course at Oglebay, where he shot a 69 to not only help his team win its 18th OVAC Championship in school history, but he also sat atop the leaderboard at the end of the day as the OVAC Champion.

Medalist of the OVAC Championship team is the perfect way to ride off into the sunset.

"Ryan really led the way in the OVAC Championship and that was one of the highlights of the year," Linsly coach Mark Landini said. "I'll never forget it. He played varsity all four years and he can really hit the ball a long way. He's just a great kid."

Justin Doerr

Sophomore

Wheeling Central

One of the youngest members of the All-Valley team makes his second appearance already of his career and there is a good chance he will have a shot at making it all four years.

Doerr nearly hit the trifecta as a sophomore, winning the OVAC and regional titles with scores of 70 and 66, respectively. He even led after Day 1 of the state tournament before falling to runner-up in Day 2 -- still good enough for All-state honors.

With the practice and hard work Doerr puts in, the sky is the limit for this Maroon Knight.

Dylan Dunlevy

Senior, Linsly

Wherever the Cadets played this year, you could bet Dylan Dunlevy's name would be near the top of the leaderboard. He earned medalist or co-medalist honors in nearly all of his regular season matches and never shied away from the big moments.

With his team looking for its first OVAC title since 2014, Dunlevy carded a 74 to help return the Cadets back to glory, while also earning a spot on the All-OVAC team.

"Dylan is a great kid," Landini said. "He was All-OVAC this year and helped us to win the championship and he's just a great kid. I hope he decides to continue golfing."

Will Foster

Junior, St. Clairsville

Will Foster turned in a sensational junior season for the Red Devils, falling just one shot shy of reaching the state tournament.

He fired a 76 at the district tournament -- and will come back even stronger as a senior.

"Will is a tremendous golfer but he is an even better kid," St. Clairsville coach Ryan Clifford said. "He is extremely poised on the golf course and this allows for extraordinary consistency. He is definitely the leader on our team and we rely on that leadership a ton."

Next year, there is no doubt the sky is the limit for Foster, who tallied a scoring average of 38 this year and earned All-OVAC, All-Buckeye 8 and All-OVGL accolades.

Gavin Goodrich

Sophomore

Wheeling Park

Make room in the trophy case because Gavin Goodrich is already starting to rack up the awards.

As a sophomore, Goodrich earned All-OVAC with a card of 76 to lead Wheeling Park to its third title in four years.

He also missed being all-state by one stroke, shooting a 167 to help lift the Patriots to a state title.

"Gavin really stepped it up this year," Park coach Don Headley said. "Playing as a sophomore -- he really did a good job and helped his teammates out."

At regionals, Goodrich shot an 81 and turned in a 70 at the TRAC Championship to earn medalist honors in a team triumph.

Luke Krol

Senior, Martins Ferry

This two-time Buckeye 8 Champion left his best for last.

Luke Krol used experience and his putter to secure his second straight Buckeye 8 Championship this year with a score of 77.

He capped his career with a round of 80 in the district tournament, tied for eighth.

The Purple Riders' senior won medalist or runner-up honors in each 9-hole event he participated in and tallied a 9-hole average of 38.

"Luke was a pleasure to coach for the last four years," Ferry coach Mike Beck said. "He put work in all year-round to improve his game and cared so much about doing well and striving to be the best."

He also added All-OVGL to his senior resume.

Sam Santille

Senior, Harrison Central

Sam Santille left his mark in the Harrison Central golf history books and makes his second straight appearance on the All-Valley Golf Team.

Santille recorded a scoring average of 39.9, the second best mark in school history. He also led the team in birdies and pars and set the new school mark for most holes played at par or better with a jaw-dropping 165.

In his fourth district tournament in his career, Santille placed 10th by shooting an 81 and finished second at the Buckeye 8 Championship with a card of 79.

"Sam is the epitome of a student athlete," Harrison coach Todd Dunlap said. "He is a good student, a good golfer and an even better young man. He has been an absolute pleasure to coach for the last six years and I have all the confidence that he will do great things in life."

James Salvatori

Senior, Wheeling Park

Baseball took a backseat this summer for James Salvatori and it paid off. After focusing on his golf game all offseason, Salvatori strung together his first all-state campaign, shooting a 166 at state to help the Patriots earn a state championship.

Salvatori was one of the key seniors on the team this year, pulling his weight as a player and a leader.

"James was a leader on the team this year and we could really count on him," Headley said. "He is very deserving of making the All-Valley team."

He turned in a runner-up performance in the regional with a score of 76 to catapult the Patriots into the state tournament.

Noah Seivertson

Senior, Wheeling Park

He did it his way.

Year in and year out Noah Seivertson brought his A-game to the golf course and it paid off in his final trip around the links.

Seivertson shot a 153 to earn state runner-up honors and lead his team to its first state title since 2014.

Seivertson participated in the state tournament all four years of high school, earning all-state in each of his last two years.

"Noah was second in the state and that is a great accomplishment," Headley said. "He is a great leader was one of our catalysts of the team, who we could really count on for scores."

In the regional, Seivertson garnered third place honors with a 78 to punch his ticket to state.

At OVACs, the senior shot a 78 to help the Patriots return to glory and win their third OVAC title during Seivertson's illustrious career.

Colton Sprowls

Senior, John Marshall

From his powerful drives to his accurate putting, Colton Sprowls put it all together this year.

The senior from John Marshall capped his high school golf career where every golfer wants to be -- the state tournament.

"Colton has worked hard for many years to prepare for high school golf under the tutelage of his older brother Cody," JM coach David Gaudino said. "He has good fundamentals, a great work ethic and a great attitude. That's a real good combination for golf."

Sprowls couldn't be denied at the regional golf tournament, as he turned in a card of 82 to punch his ticket to state -- where he shot a 176 to complete his run and his memorable career as a Monarch.

Cole Tegano

Senior

Steubenville Catholic

After nine years since Steubenville Catholic's last OVAC Championship, Cole Tegano believed that was long enough as he fired a 70 on Oglebay's Crispin Course to help lift the Crusaders to the OVAC 1A-2A title.

Tegano nearly captured his second straight individual OVAC crown, as well, but finished second after a playoff hole -- still earning All-OVAC accolades.

"Cole has had an extremely successful four-year run," Steubenville Catholic coach Pete Lancia said. "He has steadily improved year after year through hard work and dedication.

"Most people probably don't know this about Cole but he's only been golfing since seventh grade and took to it almost immediately. He has a natural God-given talent and uses it on the biggest of stages to come up clutch time and again."

This is Tegano's second appearance on the All-Valley team.

Carter Wells

Junior, Barnesville

History in the making!

Junior Carter Wells cemented his legacy at Barnsville this year -- becoming the first golfer in school history to qualify for the Division II State Championship.

Wells did so in dominating fashion, posting a card of 75 at districts, finishing third overall and punching his ticket as the second individual qualifier.

He placed 29th at the state tournament near Columbus by charting rounds of 87 and 79 for a two-day total of 166.

Well's overall average of 38.6 led him to win the OVGL and take home runner-up honors at the OVAC Tournament, while lifting the Shamrocks to a 26-3 record.

"Carter is the hardest worker I have ever coached," Barnesville coach Jerry Robinson said. "What separates Carter from other players is his ability to handle pressure and his stellar play around the greens. It was an honor to coach him this year and share in the excitement of being the first player in school history to advance to the state tournament."