Central High School’s athletic program gained a jolt of momentum earlier this month when the Chargers varsity golf team won the Class 1 Region B Championship.

This was an exciting development for the golf program, the school, the community and anyone who claims to have Charger Pride.

The golf team’s title, earned Oct. 2, was the first regional championship won by a Central athletic team since 1998, when the boys track team brought one home. It was also the golf program’s first regional championship since 1987.

“We are thrilled that our golf team was able to win the Region 1 – B Championship,” Central Athletic Director Wallace Owen said. “They have worked hard to imaprove and have had a great season.”

The Chargers won the 18-hole regional tournament by placing first out of five teams at The Manor Golf Club in Farmville, producing a team score of 344. They were 11 strokes better than Stonewall Jackson High School, of Quicksburg.

Deserving special recognition are the Central golfers who made the win possible. Sophomore Cole Williams led the way for his team on the day by shooting an 84, junior Joseph McDaniel shot an 86, senior Cary Parrish also shot an 86, senior Noah Dunbar produced an 88 and junior Thomas McDaniel recorded a 90.

Winning a regional championship was a particularly momentous accomplishment for the seniors on the team.

Parrish, who has been part of the Central golf program for four years, said, “I’m glad I got to do it one out of my four years. It made it even more special that it’s my senior year, so I get to finish with a bang.”

Richard McDaniel, in his first year as head coach of the Chargers, deserves recognition for the effective guidance of his golfers.

The team and its coach have made their school and community proud. Charger Proud.

Titus Mohler is sports editor for The K-V Dispatch. His email address is Titus.Mohler@KVDispatch.com.