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Wheeling Park, John Marshall Golfers Honored On All-State Squads

WHEELING -- At the conclusion of the 2026 golf season in West Virginia, two local linksmen were celebrated among the state's best.

The Wheeling Park Patriots and John Marshall Monarchs wrapped up their time in the WVSSAC Class AAAA and AAA State Tournaments, respectively, Park grabbing sixth place and JM fifth out of eight teams in each class. At the conclusion of the two day-long outing at Speidel Golf Club's Jones Course, though, one Patriot and one Monarch each earned recognition on the All-State team for their strong play at Oglebay.

In Class AAA, John Marshall faced stiff competition as each of Greenbrier East, Winfield, Shady Spring, Bridgeport and the Monarchs were tightly clustered throughout Tuesday. Bridgeport pulled away in the back-nine, finishing with an overall card of 473 across Monday and Tuesday. They were followed by Shady Spring and Winfield, tied for second at 482, and Greenbrier East at a 483. John Marshall earned their fifth-place finish with a 488.

"We struggled today, especially when we got to the final nine, but that’s just golf," John Marshall head coach Eli Lambie said. "There are a lot of ups and downs. You never know who’s going to play well when. But I’m really proud of my team because they’re good people. They’re kind to the people they play with, they’re gentlemen on the golf course, their etiquette is impeccable. So, at the end of the day, even when we don’t play well, I love being surrounded by such wonderful young people. They really are the best."

One Monarch in particular, sophomore Drew Marling, had led the way for John Marshall for much of the season, and after finishing third individually in Class AAA last year, Marling upped his game this go-round to finish as the state runner-up medalist, carding a 75 on Tuesday and a 149 across both days.

"Drew played awesome," Lambie said. "It was fun watching him play great, he’s had a great season."

"I know that I got second, but our team has put so much work into this," Marling said. "Even if it didn’t turn out quite how we wanted, we still put a ton of effort in."

Marling birdied holes one, 12 and 18 in what the sophomore characterized as an all-around performance.

"It was a little bit of everything today," Marling said of his performance. "Putting well, getting off the tee well, everything was working."

"[The Jones Course] is a monster."

John Marshall's Hayden Harvey turned in an 87 on Tuesday for a 168 overall. Brayden Kempkens carded a 92 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 174. Kamden Knapp turned in an 89 on Tuesday, a 179 overall. All four Monarchs on the state tourney squad are underclassmen.

Wheeling Park turned in their own fifth-place performance in Class AAAA as Hurricane ran away with the team title, totaling a 456 across both days in a dominant showing where the now back-to-back champs finished more than 20 strokes ahead of second-place University (478).

Wheeling Park finished at a 501 as a team. Leading the way for Park was sophomore Seth Weidner, who finished as part of a three-way tie for fifth place with a 157 overall after carding a 78 on Tuesday.

"Seth’s been our guy all year long," Wheeling Park head coach Shane Glass said. "He’s been our most consistent, probably, golfer. He’s been shooting in the 70s all year, so it doesn’t surprise me what he did today.

"Today was some tough conditions and he grinded it out and I think he shot a 78. Being all-state is quite an accomplishment for a sophomore and we look for great things ahead for him."

Park senior Quinn Marsh picked up three birdies Tuesday to card an 83 for a two-day total of 169. Freshman Ellie West finished at a 91 Tuesday for an overall score of 175. Fellow senior Brody Groome shot a 100 and a 194 overall.

"We have some guys coming back, and a young lady coming back, so we feel pretty good about it. It’s my first year, and I’m getting to know them. But I think that they’ve got some bright futures, so we look forward to the future with them.

"And I’d just like to say though, the seniors, Quinn Marsh and Brody Groome and Reed Weidner, we appreciate their efforts, and they were great for my first year, and they taught me a lot as well."