Coming off a strong fall season and spring postseason, the South Puget Sound League 2A champion Sumner golf team is seeing a shift in leadership. This season, Shane Patrick and Chris Snelling have taken up partnered coaching duties for the boys and girls golf teams, following the departure of Casey Adcox to focus on his baseball coaching duties.

Patrick was Adcox’s assistant coach for three years before taking over coaching of the girls team in 2011.

The boys golf team has four returning seniors from last year’s league championship team.

Kai Taylor earned a sixth place individual finish at the state tournament in the spring. Thomas Murphy, Joey Bethards and Carson Dunham are also returning.

Competing for the remaining varsity spots are sophomores Riley Bruil, Johnny Staley and Jace Johnson, as well as Freshman Connor Smith.

“I expect, with our depth and experience, we should challenge for a third consecutive league championship and top five in the state as a team,” Patrick said.

On the girls team, Olivia Durham, Rachel Fox and Amanda Friermuth are the returning seniors. Juniors Madison Henken and Tianna Munroe are returning, as are sophomores Hayley Walenceus and Samantha Walsh. Rachael Suth is an incoming ninth-grader to the team, and two transfer students in Samantha Ward and Anna Babbitt.

As a state contender for the Bonney Lake High Panthers, Babbitt is a bit of a coup for the Spartans.

“Anna Babbitt will be a solid addition to our team as a new comer to the program,” Patrick said. “These girls have worked hard on their golf games over the past year, and I expect them to finish in the top half of our league.”

Both teams will begin their seasons with matches against White River High Sept. 4, and against Steilacoom Sept. 6.