Bulldog Golfers are State Bound
For the first time since 1990, and only the second time in school history, the Swanton Bulldogs Boys Golf team is headed to the OHSAA DII State Tournament after shooting a 333 and finishing as District Runner-Up at Eagles Landing Golf Club today in Oregon. After a rough front nine, the Bulldogs found themselves well back of the second-place team and final qualifying position. It took a furious rally with the number of holes dwindling down, but Swanton was able to come from behind and clinch the last remaining spot, behind District Champion, the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans, to move on.
“We were eight strokes behind with seven holes left to go. The Dogs battled. That’s for sure,” said Swanton Head Coach Austin Luce. “We knew if we came out today and played our best golf we could hang with all the teams there. Once you get to the District level all the teams are really good so you’ve got to bring your ’A’ game which we did for the last six holes and that put us over the edge and got us to State,” commented Assistant Coach Carter Swank.
A pivotal moment in the tournament came on the final hole with Swanton’s #1, Dylan Smigelsk, tied at the time for medalist honors with Archbold’s #1 Grady Short. Facing a water hazard to the left of the fairway, the Bulldog coaches asked Dylan to play it safe and lay-up in front of the green rather than risk going into the water and being penalized a stroke and having to re-hit from the same spot. Dylan, the 2025 District Champion, complied with the request, sacrificing his chance to defend his individual title but keeping the Bulldogs in second place. Grady, the 2026 NWOAL Tournament Medalist, finished with a score of 74 to earn Medalist Honors and Dylan, essentially ‘taking one for the team’ finished just one stroke behind with a 75.
Swanton Bulldogs (333): Dylan Smigelski (75 – 1st Team All-District), Christian Butler (83), Owen Hurst (86), Carson Bond (89), Carter Malak (92)
It has been a long 36 years but the next stop for the Swanton Bulldogs will at the world renown Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio to take on some of the best golf teams in the state. The 36-hole tournament will be held on Firestone’s par 72 North Course on Sunday, October 11th and Monday, October 12th. Tee time for both days is 9:00 AM.
Photo (L to R): Assistant Coach Carter Swank, Carson Bond, Carter Malak, Christian Butler, Owen Hurst, Dylan Smigelski, Head Coach Austin Luce
