Kimberly boys golf secures WIAA state berth with depth-driven strategy

The Kimberly boys golf team has qualified for the WIAA state tournament, scheduled for June 8-9 at University Ridge in Madison, marking the Papermakers’ ninth appearance in the spring competition and their first since 2023. Head coach Greg Lueneburg attributes the team’s success to a deep and consistent lineup of five junior players, rather than relying on a single star performer.

The Papermakers won the Fox Valley Association title for the fourth consecutive year and secured the sectional championship at Butte des Morts Country Club and the regional championship at Winagamie Golf Course. This marks the team’s ninth appearance at the state tournament in the spring and their first since 2023.

Lueneburg noted that the team’s strength lies in its uniformity, with seven players averaging in the 30s as a team, compared to three last year. The core lineup consists of juniors Andrew Ostermann, Tyler Steeno, Drew Grant, Tyson West, and Collin Hermann, all of whom made the all-conference team based on the league’s season-long points system.

Grant was named the conference player of the year, while Ostermann posted the best score for the Papermakers at the sectional and Steeno led the way at the regional. Grant and West tied for Kimberly’s top score at the FVA championships. Lueneburg highlighted the shift from previous years, where the team relied on standout players like Aiden Cudney, to a current structure where all five players could be considered No. 1.

The team has also advanced to state twice when the season was held in the fall, with their best finish being second place in Division 2 in 1991. Players have known each other since middle school and often play together in the summer, fostering a competitive environment that Lueneburg says has strengthened the program from top to bottom.