By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
EXETER – The Ropietski brothers each broke par on one side while posting the day’s top two scores and leading Lake-Lehman to its first District 2 boys golf team championship Tuesday with a 312-350 romp that ended Scranton Prep’s six-year run as Class 2A champion.
Eli Ropietski led the way with a 2-over-par, 73 that included a 1-under, 34 on the front nine at Fox Hill Country Club. Cael Ropietski played the back in 1-under, 35 to finish at 74.
None of the other 18 players in action on the day even matched par for either side.
The Wyoming Valley Conference’s undefeated division champions made it a sweep of the District 2 boys titles when Crestwood held off a late surge to defeat Abington Heights, 322-325, in the Class 3A final.
The district championship match performance was particularly satisfying for Eli Ropietski, who had to sit out last year’s most important events when the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association ruled him ineligible for postseason competition following a summer of 2021 transfer from Holy Redeemer to Lake-Lehman. Cael, his younger brother, was ruled eligible, but without one of its “Big Three” the unbeaten Black Knights fell nine strokes short against what at the time was the defending PIAA state champion.
“Especially with what happened last year, me just watching from the sidelines, not being able to help my team out, it felt good to come out and put up the low score here and help the team advance to regionals and try to get to states,” Eli Ropietski said.
The district champion Black Knights and Comets returned to Fox Hill Wednesday to easily defeat District 4 champions Shamokin Lourdes Regional and Selinsgrove to secure spots in the Oct. 19 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Team Championships at Penn State.
Lake-Lehman has been the No. 1 Small School every week of the season and Crestwood took over No. 1 among Big Schools in the first regular-season update of the Riverfront Sports Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 golf teams.
Michael Lugiano joined the Ropietski brothers Tuesday in helping Lake-Lehman post three scores that were five shots or more below Scranton Prep’s best. The 2021 District 2 Class 2A individual champion and this year’s runner-up in that event shot a 78.
Charlie Weidner rounded out the team score, which was made up of the best four scores out of five players. Weidner shot an 87, eight strokes better than in the same match a year ago.
Dan Flynn led Scranton Prep with an 83.
Sophomore Tommy Biscotti shot a 39 on each side to match Luke Morgan from Abington Heights at 78 for the best score in the Class 3A final.
Crestwood led by eight strokes at the turn and added to that lead on the back nine before Abington Heights came charging back to make things interesting.
“I’m never really too worried or too much in my head about what they’re doing,” Biscotti said. “I’m focusing on my score and my next shot.”
Derek Johnson was the only other Class 3A player to break 80, shooting a 79 on a day when gusting winds and difficult pin placements sometimes made things difficult.
Owen Blazick added an 80 and Ray Joseph an 85 to complete the winning team score.
MORE COVERAGE
Complete scores: District 2 boys team golf championship scores – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery, by Tony Callaio: 2022 District 2 Golf Team Championships photo gallery – NEPA Sports Nation.
