“Since I was hired literally the day tryouts and practice started, I think that there was some initial surprise to the team normally associated with any organizational change,” said Weeks, a Caribou native who relocated to the area last winter from Florida after retiring from the U.S. Navy.
“I think the squad responded well to the change,” said Weeks, who replaced Shawn Savage, “and while there was some initial hesitation from the team in receiving different direction or learning a different perspective, as the season has progressed, the team is responding well to my style and is comfortable in embracing any changes I have implemented and in trusting my guidance and direction.
The Vikings have a balance of veteran players and youth, with two seniors — Donovan Savage and Tyler Dombroski — offering the most experience. However, he said the team’s entire senior group have been “instrumental in mentoring, challenging and teaching the nuances of ‘course management’ to our underclassmen,” according to Weeks.
“I also personally rely on the four seniors to serve as positive role models, and help us in instituting team camaraderie, sportsmanship and winning attitudes,” he added.
Caribou’s other seniors are Ricky Sheldon and Jordan Bevins.
The Vikings will start five golfers Thursday. Savage averages 43.4 per round, while Dombroski comes in with a 45.6 average. Sheldon (51.2), freshman Gabe Rand (51.83) and sophomore Bailey Griffeth (52.1) round out the starting group.
Savage is the clear leader of the team, according to Weeks.
“He is our best player and is the collective voice of our team,” said the coach. “Clearly our underclassmen all look to him as a role model and for playing advice. Donovan has played his best golf on the more difficult courses [such as JATO] and we hope this trend will continue at the PVCs.”
Dombroski is also capable of playing very good golf, as evidenced by earning medalist honors in a regular season match at Presque Isle Country Club, scoring a 44 in very windy conditions.
“As a senior, Tyler also brings a positive work ethic and competitive mentality which has been beneficial for our younger athletes to observe,” Weeks said.
Sheldon has consistently scored around 50 per match and Weeks said he brings a very positive character to the team with both his outgoing personality and his willingness to provide leadership to the underclassmen.
Rand brings a consistent game to each match and “I expect him to improve his scoring substantially from year to year,” said Weeks.
Griffeth has the potential to become “very good very quickly, once he convinces himself not to overswing.” Weeks is optimistic that he will show the greatest improvement from this season to next.
In addition to Bevins, the other three members of the squad are sophomores Noah Rosado and Stewart Curtis and freshman Michael Kashian. Weeks said Bevins, like the other seniors, is a solid influence on the younger athletes. The three underclassmen have all made great strides with their game and should be solid competitors in 2016.
Weeks said from the team’s sub-.500 won-loss record has been “somewhat disappointing,” but he said he could not ask for “a better effort or a better group to work with.”
On Thursday, he admits his golfers will all have to play above their current levels for the Vikings to qualify as a team for the state tournament, slated for Oct. 10 at Natanis Golf Club in Vassalboro.
“It’s possible that we shock some of the better teams, but we will have to really play well across the board to compete,” he said.
Weeks said he believes Savage and Dombroski have a legitimate chance to finish among the top 20 individuals and score an 89 or better, which would allow them to qualify for the state individual tourney on Oct. 17.
Others have potential to break into the top 20, he added, “if they maintain their focus and avoid the two or three bad holes that have been challenging us to date.”
The Vikings had a pair of match dates this past week to close out regular season play. In a three-team home match Friday, just eight strokes separated the Houlton Shiretowners, the Presque Isle Wildcats and the host Vikings. Houlton won with 177 strokes, Caribou had 179 and Presque Isle 185. Savage was the medalist with a 38, with Dombroski complementing his performance with a 44 and Bevins turning in a 47.
On Monday, Presque Isle was able to collect its first win of the season by topping Caribou, 175-190. Dombroski paced the Vikes with a 44, while Savage and Sheldon had 47s.
