By Brittany Bowyer
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LAVEEN — For the third time in school history, the Desert Mountain Wolves have brought home the Division II Boys Golf State Championship. Desert Mountain was able to defeat second-place Horizon by 17 strokes, putting up a 24-under-par 552 overall.

“Overall we had a pretty good season, but had never really put it all together and peaked,” Coach Zane Belden said. “I was hoping it was these two days and it was. The boys have been incredibly focused all season, but really the last week, I know they wanted it and it all did come together.”

Leading things for the Wolves was senior Connor Bringhurst, who finished in fifth place overall, shooting an eight-under-par 136. Senior Mason Danninger got seventh place overall, shooting a four-under-par 140.

“We have a very, very deep team,” Belden said. “A lot of seniors contributing, juniors, sophomores. It’s a really awesome group of kids who have worked really hard for this.”

Last year, the Wolves finished in second place to Notre Dame Prep. This time, Belden had a feeling it would be their year.

“We got second place, by a lot, to a historic Notre Dame team,” Belden said. “I thought this year might be our year, but you never know. Golf’s a funny game, things can happen.”

After capturing the title, the boys gave Belden an ice bath by dumping a cooler of water on him to celebrate.

Meanwhile in the individual competition, Horizon junior Easton Reischl took first place overall. Reischl shot a 14-under-par 130, defeating the three golfers who tied for second by four strokes. Last year as a sophomore, he finished in third.

“First day started off pretty well,” Reischl said. “Shot nine under, so that was amazing. Then today, I came out just looking and finished five under. So, the tournament went pretty well.”

Reischl is currently committed to Texas Christian University.

“I was between options, and I visited TCU and I just loved the campus, the players, the coaches,” Reischl said. “It’s so amazing there.”

While Reischl’s season with Horizon has come to a close, he still has other upcoming competitions he will be participating in. Next on the list for Reischl is the Ping Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla. from Nov. 5-8.

Brittany Bowyer is a Report for America corps member, covering sports for Independent Newsmedia in Arizona. Report for America places talented journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and regions.