Kristian Pugliese and Mario Belza led Wyoming Area to a successful start to the golf season.
Pugliese and Belza played in what may have been the first state high school sporting event of the new school year – the Warriors and visiting Wyoming Valley West teed off at 7 a.m. Thursday at Fox Hill Country Club, the first legal day of play for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association – and laid the groundwork for a 157-166 victory.
Pugliese and Belza walked off the first tee in the first group of the first match and did their job at first and second in the lineup. Pugliese shot 2-over par, 37, and Belza added a 38 as the only players in Wyoming Valley Conference play to finish under 40.
The remaining Warriors played consistent rounds while the teams played in intermittent rain and it was a laborious task to keep their rackets dry.
Aiden August shot a 40. Joseph Onda added a 42 in the WVC format, where the best four of six players make up the team score.
Mitchell Rusinchak and Robbie Yatsko were there when they were needed, scoring 43 and 44 points.
Wyoming Valley West was led by Kaden Dittus and Chris McNew, who each shot 40.
The week that just ended was the first week of golf practice and games and the week that the football teams use to acclimatize to the heat.
The game was the only contest in the first week of the season in Wyoming Area. Competition in Pittston Area does not begin until Monday.
Full football practice, as well as the first practices for all other PIAA fall sports, will also begin Monday.
