BVA boys off to good start in 3A

The defending Class 2A champions are off to a hot start to the season back in Class 3A.

Fresh off a commanding win in last year’s WPIAL 2A championship, the Belle Vernon boys golf team is making their mark in 3A after the most recent realignment moved them up.

The realignment can be cruel to many high school golf teams, but Coac Melvin Gouker and his team are looking forward to the challenge, and are confident in their abilities.

So far, the Leopards are off to a 4-0 start overall and have won their first two section matches.

Gouker has a unique way of coaching his players, and it seems to be working out pretty well for them, as they bounced back from being runner-up in 2022 WPIAL to becoming WPIAL Champions.

“The thing about it is, it’s all about the kids,” said Gouker. “It’s not like I know the perfect mechanics or that they have to be perfect every day. They just have to buyin. The best coaches I’ve ever known, it wasn’t like they knew so much. They got their players to play and love the game, no matter what sport it is. If they hate the game, they’re not going to want to be good at it. I just make sure they have fun, enjoy the game, and want to get better.”

With the departure of key leaders and the rise of new talent, the team braces for a season where they not only defend a title but also challenge the boundaries of their potential as a whole.

“This is definitely our best team,” said Gouker. “If we were 2A again, I think we’d easily win states this year. It’s definitely going to be more challenging, but I think once the kids saw what they shot on opening day, they realized they could do it, and that’s all it takes.”

Last season, the Leopards finished second in the state. They were the top public school finisher, though.

While confident in his team’s abilities, Gouker acknowledges the void left by Rogan Maloney. As the team faces the added pressure of competing in a higher section, this change in leadership dynamics is important when it comes to their success.

“It comes from within, and (Rogan) really set the tone for the guys moving up,” said Gouker. “They have all taken charge and they want to be leaders. They want it to be their turn, that’s the difference. Jack Edwards, Seth Tomalski, Jordan Mocello, just to name a few. We have a great core here, and we just have to make sure these kids believe in themselves.”

With only two freshmen and not a single sophomore on the roster, the Leopards are leaning heavily on their upperclassmen to lead the way. Recognizing the need for younger players, they have established a middle school golf club, an initiative aimed at nurturing young talent and ensuring the program’s sustainability and growth for years to come.

Regardless of the scenario, Gouker knows what this team is capable of and expects them to succeed tremendously this season as play begins to pick up.

“Our goal is still the same, and that’s to make it to the WPIAL final,” said Gouker. “I’ve been in 3A before, and it’s tough, but I feel confident that we’ll win the conference again this year. Hopefully we can make it out to Penn State again for the PIAA tournament. That would be fantastic.”

The team is not just aiming to repeat past success but to surpass them. With a clear focus on reaching the WPIAL finals and a return trip to Penn State for the state championship, Belle Vernon is set to prove themselves once again.