BEAVER TOWNSHIP — Last fall, the Warren JFK boys golf team became just the third scholastic squad from the Mahoning Valley to win back to back to back state championships, joining the Ursuline football (2008-10) and Champion girls softball (2017-19) programs to achieve that feat.

To become the area’s first ever consecutive four-time state champion this fall, head coach James Lapolla readily admits that it will take a lot of hard work but that happens with a much younger team.

Lapolla just completed his fourth season at the helm of the Division III Eagles’ links program and has guided all four teams to the state championship.

In 2022, they finished seventh overall with all freshmen and a junior, winning their first state title the following year with all sophomores and a senior on the team.

Last year, they captured their second state crown with all juniors and one senior dotting their roster while this year, it was all seniors closing out their varsity careers and cementing their legacy with a third consecutive state title.

“There aren’t many teams in any division that get the opportunity to win a fourth consecutive state championship,” Lapolla told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “Heading into this year after having won two straight state championships, we really felt like we could do this again. I scheduled tougher opponents on purpose, we went to 17 tournaments and won eight of them so we were ready for tournament play.

“We had a focused group of players who were prepared for the season while our schedule prepared us for the post-season. We participated in the Congress Lake Tournament near Harville, there were 20 teams, we were the only Division III team and won. That gave us much needed confidence.”

Assistant coach Joe Canann, who has been with Lapolla all four years, said their chemistry is second to none.

“All our players have been very good friends, a group that spends a lot of time together both during the season and away from the game,” Canann said. “They spend time together, golf together in the off-season and both push and challenge one another. They always try to one up each other but it’s a civil rivalry. Everything just meshed really well all four years they have been together.”

The Eagles defeated Pittsville High, 618-641 to win last year’s crown by 23 strokes.

Andrew Fredenburg (74-74, 148) and Julian Bolino (73-75, 148) finished tied for third-place, Henry Phillips (79-79, 158) tied for 18th, Andrew Lapolla (83-81, 164) tied for 34th overall while Preston Geracitano posted 106-94, 200.

“We didn’t play our best that first year at state yet finished seventh,” Fredenburg said, who plans on majoring in finance and golfing in college. “The next two years, we played batter and won so expectations were high this year from everyone. This year, the course was more of a link-style course with plenty of wind so we had to negotiate that, which was key to our play.”

Bolino said being a cohesive unit didn’t happen by accident.

“Everyone puts in a lot of hard work to get ready for the season,” noted Bolino, who also expects to major in finance this fall when he chooses a college. “Four of us belong to the Trumbull Country Club so we play together all summer long. We practice together, hang out together and are best friends away from the game.”

Phillips echoed both Bolino and Fredenburg’s comments.

“I cannot imagine what golf is like without my teammates,” Phillips said. “They make the hard days easier and the good days better. I didn’t have my best stuff, finishing 18th but didn’t get down. You can never be upset with winning.”

Lapolla plans to major in pre-Med in college.

“The off-season and summer practices, then playing in so many tournaments helped prepare us for this moment,” he said. “Challenging and pushing each other to be the best we can be also helped.”

Geracitano, also a senior and standout basketball player for the Eagles, was in his first season as a member of the team.

“This was my first year on the team and what a fun run to be a part of, just what we have been able to accomplish,” Geracitano stated. “We are all very close, the best of friends who challenge each other to always try being the best we can be.”

For James Lapolla and Canann, the challenge moving forward is to be able to replace their ‘three-peat’ team with the ‘quad squad.’

“Next year will be a year of growth with three, possibly four freshmen set for action,” Lapolla said. “I’ll encourage them to play as much golf as they can and prepare for the season ahead. There’s a chance we can get back to state again, but a lot has to fall into place over the course of the season.”

Next week, Jim Rosenhaus, Cleveland Guardians radio announcer will serve as guest speaker.