BEAVER TOWNSHIP – Winning a state championship in any sport is quite an achievement.

Duplicating that feat is tougher, yet equally gratifying.

Advancing to state 17 times over the last half century, winning consecutive golf titles twice and five in total – they also have two runner-up finishes – is an even greater accomplishment.

Meet the juggernaut they call the Warren JFK boys golf program, a team that captured their fifth state title this past October and repeated as OHSAA Division III golf champions during the two-day competition at NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury.

With four of five starters returning next year for their senior season, third-year head coach James Lapolla welcomes the opportunity for a possible ‘three-peat.’

“Everyone had a blast this season,” Lapolla told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “Every year you need to improve and this group got better as the season progressed. It was fun to see that improvement so we will savor this championship for the moment, knowing we have to start all over again in the summer if we expect to get back to state.”

The Eagles shot an opening round 328, then on Day No. 2 authored a 306, their 634 total a 22 stroke improvement on the final day as they came from behind to defeat Van Buren High (332-304-636) for the program’s second back to back championship.

“One quote I like to say to the kids, especially on the first day of multiple day events, is ‘You can’t win it all on the first day, but you can certainly lose it,’ so play smart,” assistant coach Joey Canann added.

JFK was in second-place heading into the final round while Van Buren sat three spots back heading to the final round of play.

Cameron Phillips of Lucasville Valley won individual laurels by shooting 66-71-137. His 66 on opening day and 137 overall are new NorthStar Division III state tournament records.

Henry Phillips paced the Eagles by shooting 149 (76-73), finishing in a three-way tie for sixth-place followed by Andrew Lapolla (77-74-151) who closed in a two-way tie for ninth.

Andrew Fredenburg (84-80-164) finished in a two-way tie for 30th, Julian Bolino (91-79-170) finished 41st while Taggart Carfangia’s 187 (94-93) was good enough for 62nd overall.

During the season, Phillips averaged 37.4 per nine holes, Lapolla posted a 38.5 average followed by Fredenburg (38.9), Bolino (40.5) and Carfangia (44.8).

Phillips and Lapolla were first-team conference selections, Fredenburg and Bolino second-team honorees while Carfangia, a two-year letterwinner and the lone senior, earned honorable mention laurels.

All five players started on the 2023 state championship squad.

“This team had a ton of confidence going into the season and improved as the regular season progressed,” Carfangia said.

Returning to state was no accident as the Eagles’ regular season prepared them for their postseason run.

“We were undefeated in conference matches and one other match, and also won the Portage Trail Conference championship,” Lapolla said. “We also broke the previous conference championship scoring record held by Rootstown, shooting 290 as a team to eclipse the old mark by three strokes. In addition, we won sectionals, district and state. We won the Brookfield Invitational, Northeast Ohio Open and Tannenhauf Invitational, also winning a tri-match against Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline.

“In addition, we had multiple second-place finishes including our invitational, the Cardinal Classic Invitational and Dover Classic while earning an invitation to the prestigious Kiely Cup at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland. The Kiely Cup is a tournament with 12-15 of the best Division I and Division II schools. We fared better than we did in 2023 so it helped prepare us for our postseason run.”

Phillips said the key was their play on the second day.

“The first day was a grind but we persevered,” Phillips said. “The second day, we made our birdies and executed our shots. I pride myself on being able to grind through the good and bad and as a team, we definitely persevered.”

Lapolla said the team welcomes the challenge and opportunity to make it three in a row in the fall.

“It’s special to win two consecutive championships but this is a special group of players,” Andrew Lapolla said. “I’ll work now with my swing coach, Buster Thomas, who has really helped me out the past two years and just play a lot of golf this off-season to get ready for next year.”

Fredenburg said the regular season prepared the Eagles for the post-season while Bolino is already looking forward to the ’25 campaign.

“The regular season prepared us for the post-season and while we know we have a good team, no one is resting on the past,” Fredenburg said. “We are looking ahead.”

“We had to replace Bryce VanHorn, a senior from our ’23 team and had to make up for his absence,” Bolino noted. “I know my role and anxiously look forward to next season.”

Next Monday, Cleveland Guardians broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus will serve as guest speaker.