Elk Mound boys’ golf team begins a new chapter
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ELK MOUND — For the first time in school history, Elk Mound has its own boys’ golf team.
Prior to this season, Elk Mound been in a cooperative with Colfax. But, with the Mounders impeding move to the Cloverbelt Conference this fall, the agreement with Colfax, who will remain a member of the Dunn-St. Croix, could not be renewed after it expired last year.
Although they head into a bit of the unknown, the Elk Mound players along with first-year head coach Kelly Kretz are excited by the possibilities that lie ahead in this inaugural season as just “The Mounders”.
Despite losing first-team all conference golfer Zane Brice and multi-season letter winners Matt Hanson and Christian Ebert to graduation and Orion Nichols, who is a Colfax junior, Kretz has three letter winners returning.
Returning to stock this year’s new Elk Mound squad are Beau Borgwardt, Lucas Svee and Mason Mohr – all three won varsity letters a season ago.
Kretz noted that both Borgwardt and Svee should be able to challenge for all-conference spots in 2025.
The coach is also excited by the addition of senior Landon KasaKaitas, who was a member of the Mounders’ track and field teams the past three years.
“Landon has a lot of golf experience, but has never played on the high school team,” said Kretz. “He will be a great addition to our top five.”
“We have a good group of returning players that should make us competitive in the conference and hopefully help us earn some postseason success,” noted Kretz.
And judging by Elk Mound’s performance in the April 8 season and conference opener in Mondovi where the Mounder boys finished third out of six teams, Kretz’ pre-season assessment about his players competitiveness appears to be spot on.
“A goal of mine, as a coach, is to help our returning players bring their averages down from last year, and for our newcomers to show improvement throughout the season,” added Kretz.
Joining the aforementioned players are junior Sam Heath, sophomores Santi Carillo and Mason Heyrman and freshmen Evan Ottosen and Ashton Buss.
Kretz has tabbed defending conference champion and previous state qualifier Durand-Arkansaw as the team to beat once again this season.
“They (Durand) are returning the Division 3 individual state champion (Logan Weissinger),” he stated.
2025 Roster
Seniors: Beau Borgwardt and Landon KasaKaitas
Juniors: Mason Mohr, Lucas Svee and Sam Heath
Sophomores: Santi Carillo and Mason Heyrman
Freshmen: Evan Ottosen and Ashton Buss