Glenwood City golf team returns leadership and experience for the 2025 season
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THE GLENWOOD CITY GOLF TEAM returns several experienced players from a team that finished as the Dunn-St. Croix Conference runner-up a season ago. The 2025 squad is pictured above. Front row (L to R): Elliott Radintz, Evie Radintz, Kamryn Brandt, Gabby Williams, and Julia Edison. Back row (L to R): Will Obermueller, Levi McVeigh, Landon Obermueller, Kaylin Brandt, Esdyn Swenby, Noah Mielzarek, Charlie Lamb and Cole Wakeling. —photo submitted
GLENWOOD CITY — For the upcoming Glenwood City golf season, Head Coach David Popko and Assistant Coach Matt Lamb welcome 14 golfers to the team for this year’s upcoming season.
Having returned from another successful season that saw the team miss out on state by five strokes, the Hilltoppers are looking forward to a season filled with strong veterans and up-and-coming athletes looking to make their mark.
Last year, the team won two meets in a tie, finished second alone or in a tie in all but one other meet, placed first in regionals, but fourth in a tight sectional that featured the state runner up and sent one individual athlete to state in Ben Wittmer.
Returning for the Toppers this year will be first team, all-conference seniors and captains, Charlie Lamb and Esdyn Swenby for the varsity, alongside varsity debutant, senior Cole Wakeling. All three have been involved in the program since the beginning of their high school careers and they are all eager to provide a top-notch season, according to Coach Popko. Joining them will be the pair of brothers, Landon and William Obermueller (junior and sophomore), who have helped push enthusiasm and support in the program. Landon helped the team clinch their regional championship last year with a great round. All five have already served as assistants at the Glen Hills summer camps for youth golf and have aided in the start of the year by helping newer golfers as they learn the sport.
Alongside them will be the up-and-coming double set of siblings in Evie and Elliott Radintz (junior and freshmen) as well as Kaylin and Kamryn Brandt (junior and freshman). Apart from the dual sets of siblings, the team is joined by sophomore Levi McVeigh, junior Julia Edison, junior Gabriella Williams, and sophomore Noah Mielzarek. Rounding out the team is our devoted senior Elijah Millermon.
The team features a bevy of experience who aim to reach significant heights this year – while going up against the state champion from Durand-Arkansaw in conference play and state team runners-up in Chetek-Weyerhaeuser.
Coach Popko made specific mention of how much each athlete has improved in demeanor and performance so far, with all playing constantly throughout the summer to improve their skills.
Speaking of these athletes, Popko said, “It is so nice to have young men and women on the team who set direct goals for themselves, work to achieve those goals, and hold themselves accountable. When you have that and don’t have to force it, it makes the team function at a very high level.”
At practice, Coach Popko spoke of how they are off to a great start and push themselves to improve. Speaking to Popko, he pointed out how “a steady influx of new talent really helps to keep the team driven, the goals on improving and pushing each other, and an opportunity for the veteran athletes to help these young people settle on the team.”
Speaking about the strengths of the team, Coach Popko pointed out that it was really helpful to have veteran golfers who have seen some of the toughest and most elite courses in the state returning.
“Leadership matters. Having good leadership skills and providing veteran experience truly helps our young athletes realize that success is possible and hard work leads to rewards,” said Popko.
Additionally, Coach Popko made a point to acknowledge his assistant Matt Lamb, JV emeritus coach Randy Ketola, and local golf guru Eric Holen, for their continued advice as well as his golf tour experience to help our golf club at school. He often provides a steady hand and clear advice to ensure our athletes stay on track and he essentially operates as a coach behind the scenes.
Additionally, the gracious support of the community parents, especially the Lambs, the Swenbys, the Obermuellers, the Brandts, and the Radintzs, who helped maintain a passion for a sport in the last few years and for that Coach Popko is quite grateful. Finally, Popko was quite clear in thanking Mr. Todd Huffman at Glen Hills as well as his whole staff for their patience and flexibility as he has been nothing but accommodating and understanding of the team’s needs and goals…as well as putting up with a swarm of young children during the summer who flocked to get ice cream at a moment’s notice.
In discussing the team’s areas to improve upon, the coaches mentioned that the weather has been quite challenging so far and does not look to be perfect just yet. The team is looking forward to getting out to the course and practicing, as the Toppers have already had to cancel a variety of practices and only just began the season yesterday, April 8th in Mondovi.
One goal for the Toppers that Popko and Lamb had was establishing that the core golfers who compete operate as an effective unit that can perform consistently in a competitive manner that sees all members of the varsity team shooting under 50 consistently. They have a similar goal for the junior varsity to aim to shoot below 55. Last year, the team performed quite well, but the ceiling for these athletes is even higher. In that regard, the coaches ask the athletes to put in the work and enjoy themselves.
The primary goal for each player will be to see their average score decline, to see them put together a mentally strong performance, and to see the group work for each other to support the individual efforts of all.
Coach Popko is entering his fifth season as head golf coach alongside Coach Lamb who will draw upon his vast knowledge of the surrounding area. Prior to taking the head coaching position, Popko was the junior varsity coach for three years.
The Toppers’ season began on April 8 at Mondovi and will see regular meets scheduled through mid-May. They will be competing against Colfax, Elk Mound, Durand, Mondovi, and Spring Valley this season. The WIAA regional will be held on the Luck Golf Course in mid-May.