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Girls’ Golf
Woodstock senior Isabella Siwiko (in front of golf cart) is joined by assistant coach Jeff Boshka (in driver’s seat), Reagan Scheck (passenger’s seat), Sophia Giourelis (in back on left) and Lily Moran during a cleanup day at the Woodstock Golf Course at Roseland Park. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.

Woodstock Academy girls’ golf coach Earl Semmelrock knew he was going to have to hope to have enough players just to field a team.
The Centaurs will in 2024. Barely.
The graduations of Ella Musumeci, Maya Orbegozo, Shannon Cunniff, Adriana Rojas and Abigail Owens were expected.
The departures of juniors Liliana Bottone and Sophie Gronski were not.
“They are concentrating on volleyball,” Semmelrock said. “They told me in the fall but I was hoping they would change their minds. I tried to do a little arm-twisting, but they’re concentrating on volleyball. I told everybody else that we’re moving forward, going to have a fun season, but you can’t all be sick on the same day.”
It leaves just five players on the roster led by senior captain Isabella Siwiko.
“We only have two returning varsity players but we have a lot of talent. We’ve been practicing at Bear’s (Virtual) Golf (in Danielson) and I feel like it’s going to be a good year. It will definitely be a learning year, we may not be up to where we were last year, but there is a lot of potential,” Siwiko said.
The Centaurs finished 12-3 a year ago, good enough for second in the ECC.
Junior Isabel Mawson and sophomore Lily Moran are the other two players who were with the program last season.
“The good news is that the three returners have been hitting balls at Bear’s and they appear to be better,” Semmelrock said.
There is little more to do this time of year.
“It helps because you can tell how far each club is going and the distance you hit and everything. That’s going to help us know where we’re at when we actually get on the course,” Siwiko said about the time spent playing virtual golf.
Few golf courses are open at this time.
In fact, the girls’ team spent one day last week doing community service by helping clean up around the Woodstock Golf Course at Roseland Park.
The course had a lot of tree removal over the winter and it has left a lot of cleanup work to be done.
The varsity teams play at Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson, which will likely not be open for another week or two; the junior varsity teams have used the Woodstock Golf Course.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting back on the course all winter,” Siwiko said.
There is a bright spot. Freshman Reagan Scheck has come out for the team.
She has a huge upside, a lot of potential,” Semmelrock said. “She is a member at Quinnatisset and takes lessons at Lake of Isles (in Ledyard). We should have a pretty accomplished player right out of the gate which is going to be helpful because without her, I don’t know what I would do.”
Scheck has already impressed the team.
 “She’s an incredible talent. She’s been playing since she was about 11-years-old so I’m really looking forward to playing with her. I feel like she is going to be a really strong player and I’m just excited for the season,” Siwiko said.
Sophia Giourelis is the other freshman and fifth player on the roster.
Woodstock opens the season April 2 against East Lyme at the Old Lyme Golf course and then is scheduled to play Norwich Free Academy at the Norwich Golf Course on April 3.
“Those are going to be tough, no question. We got some practice in (last) week at Bear’s, they have been very generous and accommodating with their time, and we can use that in foul weather. Hopefully, we will be able to use an outdoor range (this) week and then be ready to hit the ground running with two matches the week after,” Semmelrock said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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