While it may have been just recently that golfers were able to take the course, the Greece Olympia team has been prepping for the chance to tee off outside for months.

Coach Rob Duprau has a very skilled team and they have the work ethic to match.

Duprau’s team has been working all offseason, which includes clinics at Brook Lea Country Club on Sundays during the winter months.

“They have really been putting the time in and this is a nice group that pushes themselves and want to be successful,” Duprau said.

Sophomore Chris Hoecker will begin his fourth year on the varsity and will lead a solid group of starters. His sister Jenna Hoecker has a year of experience under her belt playing with the boys team and the senior has a legitimate shot at a college golf scholarship.

Junior Danny Giordano is also in the mix for the No. 1 spot after a great year in 2009 and Ryan Grace will most likely be the team’s No. 4 guy.

Senior Bobby Drexler and juniors Christian Cenzi and Joe Bonaldi are all in the mix for starting jobs as are sophomores Matt Hanna and Brandon Cox.

Seniors Aaron Keefer and Jon Radwich give Duprau more flexibility on the roster.
“We really have a bunch of player competing for the starting spots and that’s a great thing,” Duprau said. “They all want to do well.”

Olympia finished in second place to Churchville-Chili in the division last year and this year two teams will advance to sectionals from each division. Duprau said it has been a long time since Olympia has qualified  for sectionals as a team.

“We sat down this year and made individual goals,” he said. “Some have goals as high as winning sectionals while others are looking to qualify or win the satellite tournament. We would definitely like to win our division and go from there.”

Olympia started the season on a good note when they beat Aquinas 431-484 after 18 holes at Ridgemont Country Club.

Chris Hoecker led the way with an 82 and Giordano and Jenna Hoecker were right behind with an 84 and 85 respectively.

Olympia is looking forward to an exciting season which will also include the Greece Cup on April 26. It will include Athena and Arcadia and the schools will play for a trophy that they get to keep.

“We have high expectations,” Duprau said. “We aren’t over confident but we have put the time in and we are ready to watch the hard work pay off.”