With playoffs approaching quickly, the Upper St. Clair boys’ golf team has a lot on their minds. Panther golfers Zach Barone, Austin Cassidy, and Individual Sections Champion Louis Olsakovsky shed some light on the team’s mindset and approach heading into playoffs.

All players have their own personal goals and expectations they aim to reach by the end of the season, but one goal seems to be clear for all players: they all want to win a WIPAL championship and are willing to do whatever it takes to reach that goal. Unlike last season, the Panthers are not the favorite to take home this year’s medal.

“We have the potential to beat anyone in the WIPAL if we stay focused and play our best, but other teams this year are very talented as well. […] We just want to give them a run for their money,” says senior Zach Barone.

The team also brought in a new coach this year, at a very crucial point in the school’s golf program.

“Losing all top five players last year had us nervous for the season, but we couldn’t be happier with our new coach. He gives us pointers on the course and critiques our swings a lot. He’s taught us how to develop a good mental game and how to relax and have fun both on and off the course,” says Austin Cassidy.

Along with a new coach leading the Panthers into the playoffs, sophomore Louis Olsakovsky is carrying momentum going into a crucial time in the season. Louis’s Section Individual Championship raises the team’s expectations greatly going into playoffs.

By the end of his career with Upper St. Clair, Louis says that his goals are to “win a WIPAL title and contend in states as a junior and senior.”

Austin Cassidy comments, “We’ve got a group of guys that love to win, want to win, and will do anything possible to win. So I’m excited.”