In golf, every stroke counts. The Verona Hillbilly golf team knows that first hand. A very successful season for the team was marred by close losses. Half of their losses were by five strokes or less. Two heartbreaking matches were lost by a single stroke each.

When the roller coaster of a season came to an end, the Hillbillies finished with a 16-10 record. Moving to a new division and having to play the likes of Seton Hall Prep, MKA, Millburn, and Newark Academy on a regular basis made it a very challenging season. Head Coach Joe Carollo, called the 16-10 record “a great accomplishment,” when you factor in the exceptional caliber teams the Hillbillies faced.

The team’s tough luck, the theme of the season, carried over into the state sectional tournament as well. The Hillbillies finished third, a repeat of last year’s performance. Placing second would have qualified the team for the Tournament of Champions. The team missed by only three strokes. With unforeseen transportation issues arising the day of the state tournament, Coach Carollo believed that if everything went smoothly as planned the team would have gone on to qualify for the state tournament.

“Regardless of the ups and downs of this season, I had a great time,” said senior John Cifune. “It was a fun ride.”

The Hillbillies’ season was highlighted by their performance in the conference tournament where they finished second. The tournament spotlight was stolen by a fourth place individual finish a score of 75 by sophomore Frank Ferrari.

Frank Ferrari went on to be named to second team All-Conference; junior Bobby Leblein earned honorable mention All-Conference.

Along with the all-conference award winners the Hillbillies will also bring back junior Hunter Grasso and sophomore Bill Ferrari.

Although the Hillbillies will lose seniors John Motley and John Cifune next year, Coach Carollo has great expectations for next year’s team.

“We bring back a majority of our team next year,” the coach remarked. “We feel like we are poised to be as good, if not better.”

“Our goal for the last two years was to get to the Tournament of Champions … and that’s our goal for next year,” stated Carollo.

With some great young players like, freshman Mitch Garrison, getting their turn to shine next year, the team hopes to see itself competing with the cream of the crop in their conference and finally achieving their goal of making it to the Tournament of Champions.