OLIVESBURG — A vast majority of high school athletes will go their entire careers without ever reaching a state tournament.
Only a select few will ever make it to state more than once. Fewer still will stand on the podium.
Crestview’s Ben Olewiler is among the elite.
The Richland Bank Athlete of the Week, Olewiler will be making his third trip to the state golf tournament after the Cougars finished runner-up at last week’s rugged Division III district tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green. Crestview carded a 323, finishing behind defending D3 state champ Ottawa Hills (311).
The 6-foot-6 Olewiler fired a 1 over 73, good for second place individually. A week earlier at the Valley View sectional, he shot a 1 under 71 to share medalist honors with Hopewell Loudon’s Bryce Gorrell.
“We haven’t had that much pressure on us, but to make it to state for a third time in a row is a relief,” Olewiler said. “Making it as a team for a third straight year was always our goal.”
The Cougars made their first state tournament appearance in 2012 and what a debut it was. Crestview won the team state title with a two-day total of 646, outdistancing heavyweights Wellington School (second, 651) and Columbus Academy (third, 651) at North Star Golf Club in Sunbury. Olewiler shot a 78-81—159 to finish tied for ninth, earning All-Ohio second team laurels.
The Cougars returned to state last fall and shot a 665, finishing third behind Ottawa Hills (647) and Columbus Academy (659) at The Ohio State University Scarlet Course. Again, Olewiler shot a 78-81—159 to finish tied for 10th. landing a spot on the All-Ohio second team.
The Cougars will return to North Star on Friday for the two-day event.
“I think we are seeded fifth going into the state tournament so even a third-place finish like last year would be great,” Olewiler said. “I’d be happy with that.
“We’re back at North Star, which is good. We won state there and we’re all familiar with the course.”
As well documented as they are, Olewiler’s exploits on the golf course only tell half his story. He finished second in the high jump competition at the Division III state track and field meet last spring with a leap of 6-foot, 7 inches. The first team All-Ohioan is a Division I college prospect drawing interest from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Akron among others. He also was the basketball team’s leading scorer last winter and is playing football this fall for the first time in his high school career.
“Physically, golf and track are very different sports but there are some similarities in the way you approach them mentally,” Olewiler said. “If you miss a height in the high jump, you can’t let it bother you. In golf, if you miss a short putt you can’t dwell on it.”
While the spotlight is his alone in track, Olewiler prefers sharing it with friends. That is what has made the last three golf seasons so special.
“I always love going to state with teammates,” he said. “I would have been happy to make it as an individual, but it’s more enjoyable when you can share the experience.”
One person Olewiler has shared the experience with is his father, Bob, Crestview’s varsity golf coach.
“Ben has worked so hard to get where he is, as have all the guys,” Bob Olewiler said after last week’s district tournament. “It has been a treat to watch him develop over the years.”
The younger Olewiler isn’t sure where his college future lies. Could he compete in both golf and track?
“It would be really hard to do both in college,” he said. “Would I like to? Of course, but it would be hard to juggle everything.
“I’ve gotten more interest from track programs, but we will wait and see what happens.”
“We haven’t had that much pressure on us, but to make it to state for a third time in a row is a relief,” Olewiler said. “Making it as a team for a third straight year was always our goal.”
