O’Dea Golf: A Season Preview

By Max Phillips, Save Lotawa, Torsten Schenck

SEATTLE- With a fresh school year upon them, O'Dea students and gone all in on fall sports. With that, the Irish golf team is fired up and ready to get back to state, backed by a roster full of talent and strong leadership. Though last year’s team fell short of reaching state, the program has made impressive strides—especially in developing its younger players and sending multiple individuals to the state tournament. This season, the seniors will play a crucial role, bringing leadership and experience to a squad hungry for more wins and dominant performances. Second year coach, Doug Porter is all in on the new wave of talent, placing high expectations on their growth and impact. The team’s chemistry, confidence, and drive make the goal of a state tournament run feel more attainable than ever.

Overall last season O’Dea’s golf team had a strong season, finishing 8–3 overall in the Metro League. That 8–3 record led them to a 6th place finish in the Metro League last year. However, they had their fair share of challenges they are hoping to address during the 2025–2026 season. They had a Points Against Average of 127 which is the 3rd most in the Metro League. Only a few teams like Rainer Beach (0–8) and West Seattle (3–8) had a lower score than them.  This year, they look to finish inside the top 3 and plan on going to state and finishing as a team. Will they make it to state? Only time will tell but captain Bennett Smoltz sees reason for optimism. He said, "These tryouts had one of the lowest scores we have seen so far" which is only one sign of positive things to come for the program.

As the season continues, the Irish have set their sights high and are determined to make a statement this year. Last season they finished with a strong 8–3 record, but the team knows they are capable of even more. A new season brings fresh beginnings and new goals, and with several young players joining the roster, senior captain and standout John Pokorny is focused on making sure the underclassmen feel comfortable and confident. “We’ve got a lot of talented golfers, many of them new to high school golf,” Pokorny said. “It’s about helping them overcome the nerves, get comfortable, and hopefully work toward the goal of taking the team to districts and getting some guys to state.” The question now is whether these young Irish golfers can rise to the challenge and fill the shoes of those who came before them.

The O’Dea golf team lost a significant number of players such as Paddy Mahar, Zach Schuyler, and Matthew Livingston. A lot of the returning players like Smoltz were unsure what this season would bring with all the new players, but tryouts allowed the young talent come out and shine. Senior Smoltz said, "This year it is going a mostly freshman and sophomore team with a couple upperclassmen including myself that will help lead them to be successful.” But now the question is, can the youth of the team help improve their season or will it end in disaster, and will it be the seniors' last chance to make something happen before college?

O'Dea golf is aiming for a strong season and a return to Metros. They’ll face tough rivals this year, teams that will play a critical role in O'Dea’s path back to Metros. Eastside Catholic, Seattle Prep, and Bishop Blanchet are top contenders from last season, and Roosevelt always brings a challenge. Last season, O'Dea fell to Eastside Catholic, Seattle Prep, and Roosevelt, but this year they’re determined to flip the script. With new depth and returning talent, the team is hungrier than ever, ready to challenge every rival and make a statement. Every match will count, and O'Dea golf is set to rise above last year’s setbacks and prove they belong at the top.