By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — While last year was a dream season for the North Reading High golf team, this season has been a rough one so far as a majority of the roster has been overturned due to graduation from the Cape Ann League division championship team last fall.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Hornets fell to 0-8 as they fell to Rockport, 148-134, at Hillview Golf Course on a sunny, warm day.
“The league has gotten better this year,” said Hornets second-year head coach Jon Kiniry, whose squad only lost one match last year. “We also could have shot a little better than we did.”
Senior co-captain, Conrad Gerber led the team in scoring (Stableford scoring) with 29 points. Fellow senior captain, Leo Romanski, was second with 25 points while Brayden Carlson was third with 23 points.
“Despite our record the kids are still having fun,” said Kiniry, “The goal now its to develop our younger players for next year.”
On Monday afternoon, the Hornets traveled to Rowley County Club and lost, 191-181, to host Newburyport.
“We had only three kids play there before and they did a great job,” said Kiniry, despite the loss. “Scoring 181 points was great, but Newburyport did an outstanding job defending their home course.”
Gerber and Romanski each had huge days with 36 points each. Dylan Harris also had a great round scoring 32 points.
On Sept. 11, the Hornets went to private Essex Country Club to take on Manchester-Essex. They ended up losing that match 168-109.
“Only two of our players have ever played that course,” pointed out Kiniry. “It is one of the toughest courses in the league along with Myopia Hunt.”
Gerber had 29 points while Romanski added 22. Brendan Gazda and Noah Salvatierra each tied for third with 16 points each.
On Sept. 10, the Hornets lost at home to Ipswich 171-134.
“They have a good team with a lot of depth,” said Kiniry, about the Tigers.
Gerber and Romanski both had 26 points while Salvatierra added 23.
On Sept. 18, the Hornets host Newburyport at 3 p.m.
North Reading then hosts Triton on Sept. 22 and Essex Tech on Sept. 23. Both of those matches will start at 3 p.m.