The fall golf season got underway Sept. 9, and the Storm have been full steam ahead since the beginning.

With three invitationals in the first week, the men are already to the halfway point of this short season and are steadily improving with every meet. The fall season gives players who don’t normally get a lot of playing time a chance to show the coach what they are capable of.

With no seniors on this year’s roster, the Storm are lacking in experience but thriving in effort and positive attitudes. Only one golfer returns from last year’s team, leaving quite a few spots to fill for the underclassmen.

“Everyone has a lot of room for improvement,” freshman Marc Don Carlos said. “But everyone seems to be working hard to get better, and the upperclassmen are helping us younger kids out in practices and meets.”

With this year’s young team, there are many players on the verge of a varsity position working hard to show what they can do.

“The freshmen are doing great,” junior John Richter said. “Knowing there are other guys on the team that can take your spot at the drop of a hat is very motivating.”

There are many new additions to this year’s squad, including new head coach Jason Marvelli.

Marvelli was a collegiate golfer at Indian Hills Community College and also at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he was elected captain of both teams. He was also the 1990 Class 4-A Iowa State Golf Champion at Newton High School.

Marvelli has been involved with golf for years and looks to move this program forward in a positive direction.

“He can really relate to us players and not only help us with our golf games but also with the responsibilities of being a student-athlete,” Richter said.

The Storm started off their fall season at the Simpson Fall Invitational in Indianola on Sept. 9, where the junior varsity and varsity teams finished fifth and third respectively. The varsity squad was led by Richter, who tied for fifth overall with a score of 79. Following close behind him was freshman Grant Northway, who finished tied for ninth with a score of 80.

The following week the golfers traveled to Marion, Iowa, to play in the Mt. Mercy Fall Invitational. The Storm placed 17th, but with the large number of teams and considerably high playing level, did not hang their heads on this meet. Sophomore transfer student James Montgomery led the Storm, finishing tied for 52nd out of 124 golfers, shooting 155 for two rounds.

A few days later they traveled to Oskaloosa to golf at the William Penn Fall Invitational. The Storm finished in fifth place as a team, while Montgomery and Richter lead the team, finishing 13th and 14th respectively.

“So far I really enjoy the golf team here,” Montgomery said. “I’d like to see us finish at the top in some tournaments and especially do well at conference and beat Central a few times.”

The Storm plan to improve their game with the three invitationals left in their fall season, using their determination and desire to continue their success into the spring.