So, which does he like best?
“Honestly, it’s probably soccer. Or basketball. I really like having a crowd and people cheering for you,” he said. “You really don’t have that in tennis, and you don’t get that in golf.
“But what makes tennis and golf special is I like the individuality. It’s all on yourself. In soccer, you obviously have to count on teammates, which is a good thing. But it can also be a bad thing. It’s frustrating at times.”
Central golf coach Cuyler Doane doesn’t care where his sport ranks with Woeber. He’s just glad the multi-talented senior is committed to teeing it up again this season.
The Irish finished third in the Division III district at Beavercreek Golf Club last season, just five strokes from qualifying for the state for the fourth time in their history. Doane, who is in his 11th year, led the team to a state berth in 2013 after finishing second in the district.
Woeber averaged about 40 for nine holes last year and shot 83 at the district, second on the team behind the graduated Kyle Foley (79). Seniors Jack Brougher (86) and Colin Kelly (88) also had strong showings at the district.
They form the nucleus of what is expected to be an Ohio Heritage Conference contender — when they all show up. Brougher is a top defender on the soccer team, and Kelly is a star quarterback in football.
“We work around soccer and football,” Doane said. “Fortunately, a lot of our big stuff is on the weekend when soccer and football aren’t going on. Those are their main sports, but they really enjoy playing multiple sports in the same season.”
They’ve earned Doane’s admiration.
“It’s not easy being a student and an athlete, plus an athlete in another sport all at the same time,” he said.
Woeber was active in junior golf tournaments over the summer, which should mean he’ll be sharp even without consistent matches.
“He’s kind of an unflappable kid. Nothing really bothers him too much. He’s got a level head on his shoulders,” Doane said.
Seniors Colin Hanna and Will Hoffman and sophomore Brycen Adams will see regular action. There’s also a strong freshmen class thanks to a flourishing junior program at the CYO level.
Wanting to expose middle-school boys and girls to the game, Doane and the late Teresa Yontz, who was Central’s assistant athletic director then, started a spring clinic about five years ago at Mitchell Hills golf course. That effort evolved into a weekly nine-hole coed league with 20-25 participants from Springfield and Dayton.
Keegan Windle won the individual title last year and is a freshman for the Irish this season.
“It’s been really helpful to me. I don’t have worry about whether or not I’m going to have enough for a team,” Doane said.
“I think Teresa would be pretty pleased to see where the golf program has gone. She was excited when I began coaching, and we had fun working together. I think about her every year because she had a big part in getting the program where it is now.”
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