For his first three years of high school, Danny Harcourt was a two-sport athlete, starting for the St. Peter’s Prep hockey team as well as being a key member of the golf team.
Harcourt was a starting defenseman for the Marauders on the ice and admittedly, Harcourt said he played a key role.
“I was a starter my junior year and I guess I was a pretty good hockey player,” Harcourt said.
But Harcourt made a tough decision before the hockey season began last November. He decided to forego his senior year on the ice to concentrate on golf.
“I just thought that my desire was greater to play golf,” Harcourt said. “My hockey coach [Mike Goodrich] wasn’t too happy with my decision, but he respected it.”
As for Harcourt?
“At some points, it was a hard decision to make, but when the season began, I didn’t miss it, so I knew I made the right decision,” Harcourt said.
That decision was solidified last Tuesday, when Harcourt shot a 77 at the NJSIAA Non-Public A North state sectionals at the Forest Hill Golf Club in Bloomfield, finishing fifth overall and earning a berth in Monday’s NJSIAA Tournament of Champions at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club.
Harcourt, a senior headed to Gettysburg College to study computer science in the fall, became only the fifth golfer in St. Peter’s Prep history to earn a berth in the T of C.
Harcourt had a tough way to play at the state sectionals. Over the last few years, the Marauders went to the sectionals as a unit, competing as one of the top ranked teams in the state. Just two years ago, the Marauders were 12-0 and ranked as high as No. 3 in the state.
But this year, since the Marauders struggled through the regular season, they failed to qualify as an entire unit, posting a 7-8 record.
“It was extremely difficult,” Harcourt said. “I felt bad that not all of us could come.”
It meant that Harcourt had to play as an individual, along with teammate T.J. Kaczan. Teams that don’t qualify are only permitted to bring two golfers to the sectional. It meant that standout golfer Paolo Matti, who finished second overall at the sectional and eighth overall at the T of C two years ago as a sophomore, had to be left home this year.
“It was the hardest thing we ever had to tell someone,” Harcourt said of the news that Matti couldn’t compete in the sectional.
This was a breakthrough year for Harcourt, who previously shot a 73 at the FDU Invitational and a 77 at the Blue Devil Classic – two of the state’s top invitational tournaments – earlier this season.
“He’s been doing it all year,” said Prep head golf coach Ryan O’Flaherty. “He’s always been a good golfer. But he’s come so far in three years. I just knew he was going to have a good round and qualify [for the T of C]. He committed himself to get there.”
Harcourt said that he just had to stay away from big numbers Tuesday.
“That was the goal,” Harcourt said. “I had a lot of two-putts for par. A few shots got away from me here and there, but I was pretty solid. I’m pretty proud of the way this spring has gone. It means a lot that I’m going [to the T of C]. It proves that I’m one of the best golfers in the state. It’s an awesome feeling.”
And obviously, Harcourt made the right choice in sticking with golf…
Marist head baseball coach and athletic director Ron Hayward made a stunning announcement this week. He has officially resigned his positions at Marist, effective at the end of this season, after spending nine years at his alma mater.
“It’s really disappointing,” said Hayward, who led the Royal Knights to two Hudson County titles and the overall NJSIAA Non-Public B state crown in 2012. “I think of all the work I put into getting the program to this point. It hurts, because I spent a lot of time there. It’s been tough on all of us. But when you’re not getting the respect for what you’re doing, then it’s time to leave.”
However, Hayward isn’t going anywhere far, because he announced that he will be heading to St. Anthony to become the athletic director and baseball coach there beginning July 1. Hayward will be replacing Buddy Matthews in both positions. Matthews will become the school’s disciplinarian.
“Buddy was the one who put it all together,” Hayward said.
“I have a lot of respect for Ronnie and I know he’s the right man for the job,” Matthews said.
Hayward will get the chance to coach his son, Elliott, who is a budding baseball star and will enroll at St. Anthony in the fall.
“I didn’t want to leave Hudson County yet,” Hayward said. “I know St. Anthony is where I wanted him to go to school. I want him to grow up in Hudson County.”
It’s good to know that Hayward will still be around in the fall, but it leaves Marist in quite a quandary moving forward…
Believe it or not, the NJSIAA state playoffs begin Monday, which means that many of the local baseball and softball teams will have played their final games. Didn’t it just get warm enough to play like last week?
Anyway, here’s a quick look at where the local teams are headed.
In baseball, Memorial got the No. 3 seed in the North 1, Group IV bracket and the Tigers will play host to Randolph. Union City got the No. 8 seed in the bracket and will play host to Passaic County Tech.
In North 2, Group IV, Bayonne got the No. 13 seed and drew a tough game against Columbia in the first round. Dickinson didn’t have enough power points to qualify.
In North 2, Group III, Ferris earned a home game as the No. 6 seed and will welcome Summit.
In North 2, Group I, Weehawken earned a home game as the sixth seed and will face Technology of Newark. The showdown between Secaucus and University Charter was mentioned in Scoreboard. Hoboken got in as the No. 16 seed and will travel to top-seeded Ridgefield.
In the Non-Public brackets, St. Peter’s Prep is the No. 3 seed in Non-Public A North and will face St. Joseph of Montvale in the first round later next week. In Non-Public B North, overall defending state champion Hudson Catholic is the No. 5 seed. Marist is the No. 3 seed in Non-Public B South in Hayward’s swan song.
In softball, North Bergen is the No. 7 seed in North 1, Group IV and will face Passaic County Tech. Bayonne is the No. 6 seed in North 2, Group IV and faces Union.
In North 2, Group III, Ferris is No. 10 seed and heads to Voorhees. In North 2, Group I, Hoboken, as the No. 8 seed, gets a home game against Dayton Regional. Secaucus is the No. 2 seed and gets Shabazz. Weehawken is the No. 7 seed and hosts Technology.
In the Non-Publics, Hudson Catholic is the No. 2 seed in Non-Public B North. The Hawks don’t play until May 26. We’ll have more on them next week. St. Dominic will travel to face Pope John in the first round of Non-Public A North, also on May 26. Marist is the No. 8 seed and hosts Doane Academy in Non-Public B South…--Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.