OLIVESBURG — Crestview senior Ben Olewiler went out in style.
The Richland Source Boys Golfer of the Year, Olewiler earned Division III All-Ohio first team honors after finishing fifth at the state tournament at North Star Golf Resort in Sunbury last month.
Crestview finished sixth as a team, capping a remarkable three-year run. The Cougars won a state championship in 2012 and finished third in 2013. Olewiler was a second team All-Ohioan both years before moving up this fall.
“We kind of established the Crestview name for golf,” said Olewiler, who was sectional co-medalist at Valley View and runner-up at the Stone Ridge district. “People will always remember that.”
The 6-foot-6 Olewiler is joined on the Richland Source first team by Crestview classmate Bryce Lutz, Lexington’s Charles Mikelait and Kaleb Smith and Clear Fork’s Dakotah McClain and Luke Watson.
Like Olewiler, Lutz is a multi-year All-Ohioan. He was a first team selection in 2012 when he tied for fifth at state. He was 12th in 2013.
Lutz carded a 73 at the Valley View sectional and 80 at Stone Ridge.
The lone senior on Lexington’s varsity roster, Mikelait was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first team selection. He shot a 74 at the Division I sectional at Eagle Creek in Norwalk as the Minutemen advanced to the district tournament. Lex finished sixth at Red Hawk Run, missing out on a trip to state. Mikelait carded an 81. He was also the medalist at the Lexington Invitational, beating Ashland’s Beau Bayerl in a playoff.
Smith is a member of Lexington’s talented junior class. The son of Westbrook Country Club golf pro Greg Smith was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first team pick. He led the way at the district tournament with a 78, shot a 77 at the sectional and was the medalist at the season-opening Colt Classic.
McClain joined Mikelait and Smith on the OCC first team, helping the Colts to a second place finish at the OCC tournament. Clear Fork finished second at the Division II sectional at Sawmill Creek. The Colts finished fourth at the district at Red Hawk. McClain shot an 84 at the district tournament.
A junior, Watson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 9. He wears an insulin pump on his belt and must constantly monitor his blood sugar levels. Watson has been Clear Fork’s No. 1 golfer the past two seasons and was an OCC second team selection this year. He was third at the City Tournament as the Colts played their best golf late in the season.
