'Leader Launch' Complements Student Character Lessons

Golf Teams Strong Throughout Season
Despite a disappointing finish in the District tournaments, the boys’ and girls’ golf
teams both had successful fall seasons.
The boys’ team, coached by Stan McMahan, claimed several first-place finishes at
meets this season. They topped large area public high schools including Auburndale,
Lake Region, Tenoroc and Frostproof. The Vikings also defeated rivals All Saints’
Academy and Santa Fe Catholic.
In the boys’ District tournament, a scoring error dropped the Vikings from a
second-place finish to a sixth-place finish. Hayden Hill earned a fourth-place individual
finish with a 78. Other team members at the District meet were Grant McKown (90),
Brian Staes (94) and Andrew Williams (96).
Led by Hannah Webster, the Lady Vikings golf team finished fourth in the
District tournament with a team score of 440. Webster shot a 101 for an individual
eighth-place finish. Other team members at the District meet were Ellen Sharpe (108),
Anna Lanzino (115) and Ashlynn Joyner (116).
The girls’ team earned wins over Lake Region and McKeel Academy this season.
In the county tournament, the Lady Vikes finished sixth out of the nine teams
represented. The girls were coached by David Joyner.
Hayden Hill earned a fourth-place individual finish
at this year’s District golf tournament.
Cross Country Teams Compete Well in County Meet
The Lakeland Christian cross country teams consistently prove themselves as some of
the best in the county, and this year is no different. At the annual Polk County Invitational,
the LCS girls brought home a third-place finish and the boys finished in fifth place.
The LCS girls’ team, led by Spookie Eaves, tallied a team score of 90 points at the
county meet. Spookie’s time of 20:24 earned her a fourth-place individual finish. Jessica
Fuller ran the course in 21:57, giving her a 13th-place overall finish.
On the boys’ side, Mark Mutz continues to dominate the field of runners. His
second-place time of 16:27 was just five seconds behind the first-place runner. Taylor
Scruggs finished 12th with a time of 18:07.
Earlier in the season at the City meet, Eaves finished in third place with a time of
21:12 to help the Vikings to a second-place team finish. Mutz ran course in 17:10, giving
him a second-place individual title and helping his team to a third-place finish overall.
At the flrunners.com Invitational on October 2, Mutz set a new personal record
and school record with a time of 16:24.13. He won the boys’ race.
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