Dillon hopes to secure another state medal as he leads Wildcat golf

Louisburg junior Calvin Dillon is hoping to earn his third consecutive state medal this season for the Wildcats.

Calvin Dillon has had one of the
best starts – if not the best start – to a golf career in Louisburg High School
history.

Dillon earned state medals during
his freshman and sophomore seasons, and for some, those results alone would be
a great high school career. However, Dillon is only halfway done and he isn’t
resting on his laurels.

Once his season completed last May, Dillon didn’t stop playing as he competed in junior tournaments over the summer and into the fall as well. Even the cold weather didn’t stop Dillon from picking up the clubs.

“With how bad our winter was, I hit a lot of balls and putted in an indoor facility in Overland Park,” Dillon said. “It was a great feeling when the weather turned and it was nice to see some balls fly again.”

Dillon and his Wildcat teammates
have been hard at work at practice the last couple weeks with the warmer
weather as they prepare for their season opener Monday in Paola.

Last season, Dillon finished 11^th
at the state tournament in Emporia and he is hoping for even better things this
time around.

“I would like to win another state
medal and improve my placing from the last two years,” Dillon said. “We’ve been
working really hard at practice, putting a lot of emphasis on the short game.
Coach has been giving us a lot of wedge and putting drills that will really
help us throughout the season. We’re all ready to compete and the guys are
hungry to win this year.”

Louisburg coach Brian Burns knows
Dillon is capable of doing great things for the Wildcats this season and has
noticed a little difference in his game.

“Calvin switched to an overlapping
grip last year and has been playing a bunch,” Burns said. “I know he will be
trying to win every meet. He is a great golfer.”

The Wildcats return three golfers with varsity experience from a year ago. Along with Dillon, juniors Ryan Haight, Drake Varns and David Perentis will return to help lead Louisburg.

Juniors Garrett Rolofson and Luke Wickersham, along with senior Cole Williams, could all see varsity time as well, according to Burns.

“There are a couple junior varsity
players that are improving that might be able to take one or two of those
varsity spots,” Burns said. “My expectations for the season are always high,
but we are not where we need to be yet. I would like to get no lower than third
in any tournament containing less than 10 teams.”

The Wildcats will get their season
started Monday when they travel to the Paola Country Club for the Paola
Invitational. Tee time is set for 2 p.m.