This is a printer friendly version of an article from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Posted with the permission.
Back to WRACS

April 23, 2009

Assumption eager to build on 2008

By Mitchell A. Skurzewski
Daily Tribune staff

Joe Lownik and the Wisconsin Rapids Assumption golf team are eyeing big things this season.

Lownik finished just one stroke behind the state champion and in third place at the state meet last season. His coach said Lownik is hungry for a championship.

"Joe is pretty hungry," Royals coach Joe Birkhauser said. "He works hard at everything. He is a good student and works hard over the summer."

Not only is Lownik a great individual player, but he is a leader for the rest of the team.

"We always kid around with 'Jojo' that he puts the time in and is pretty much a coach," Birkhauser said. "We look to him for leadership. He helps the other kids out."

Not only did Lownik have a successful season last year, but the Royals team had a successful and historic season.

Assumption won the first regional championship in school history.

"With last year's group, it was a great accomplishment, becuase we weren't really expected to (win regionals)," Birkhauser said. "It's a great boost to the program and the kids have the potential to do that again."

The Royals graduated just one player from their roster from last season and the coach likes what he has heard from his kids in the early going.

"Talking to the kids at practice, a lot of them played a bunch in the offseason," Birkhauser said. "Is this something you're going to do for two months or all year? A bunch of these kids played a lot in the offseason. They are just a hard-working group of kids."

The Royals hope they reap the rewards from that hard work and it results in more individual and team accolades.

Joe Lownik of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption watches his putt during the opening day of the WIAA State Golf Tournament last June in Verona. (DAILY TRIBUNE file photo)