Lycoming News

After leading his team to a United East Conference championship and securing an NCAA tournament berth in his first full season, Pennsylvania College of Technology golf coach Rob Lytle is hopeful for the 2023 season. "We want to keep building on the success we had last year," Lytle stated. The Wildcats will commence their fall season on Tuesday, September 12, at the Elizabethtown College Fall Invitational held at Hershey Country Club East.

"I am obviously looking forward to the fall season. It's nice to have the (United East) conference championship-winning team back together," said Lytle. Returning players include junior Peyton Mussina from Montoursville, Pa.; junior Will Orwig from Mifflintown, Pa.; junior Gavin Baer from Bainbridge, Pa.; senior Trevor Keaton from Worcester, Pa.; and sophomore Gunner Redmon from Lock Haven, Pa., all of whom are reportedly playing better than they did in spring.

Additional returning members are sophomore Brock Hamblin from Middlebury, Pa.; sophomore Brendon Vaughn from Chambersburg, Pa.; and junior Nate Williamson from Lafayette Hill, Pa.

Mussina led last year's team with a scoring average of 75.3 and was named to the United East Conference First Team. Redmond and Orwig both received UE Second Team honors while Lytle was awarded United East Coach of the Year.

Lytle also mentioned a promising group of freshmen vying for spots on the team: Sam Wetmiller from Selinsgrove, Pa.; Brett Keenan from Lafayette Hill, Pa.; Luke Brooks from Tyrone, Pa.; and Logan Gawlinski from Kittanning, Pa., who have been diligently practicing. "The freshmen have been pretty surprising," he noted as his travel squad will comprise eight players.

Discussing the upcoming seven-event fall tournament schedule, Lytle expressed enthusiasm: "It is one of the best schedules you can put together. We will be competing at some really nice courses and against some great competition."

Highlighting this schedule is the D-III Northeast Elite event on September 30 at Williamsport Country Club. Penn College will co-host with Penn State Altoona featuring champions or runners-up from 15 conferences.

"I want to expose the players to some really nice courses, some longer courses, and good competition," said Lytle about preparing them for future challenges.

"They know they want to continue the success from last year and I think that's been a driving factor," added Lytle regarding both returning players' motivations and incoming freshmen's aspirations to contribute similarly.