Finneran to make return trip to boys golf state tournament

October 3, 2025

BOWLING GREEN – SMCC senior Blake Finneran will be making a return trip to the OHSAA Division III state boys golf tournament after finishing as the district runner-up on Thursday. In the Northwest District event at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green, Finneran shot a 1-over-par 73 to finish in second place, just one stroke back of the tournament medalist in a field of 108 players. The top four teams at the district tournament advance to state. Another four individuals from outside of the qualifying teams will also compete in the state event, to be held on Oct. 13 and 14 at NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury. Finneran was the No. 1 individual qualifier this year after claiming the fourth and final spot as a junior. As a team, the Panthers ended at 356 for 10 th place among 18 schools. Moving on to state are Pettisville (313), Delphos St. John’s (316), Van Buren (316) and Kalida (326). Joining Finneran to account for SMCC’s scoring at the district were his younger brother Joey Finneran, a freshman, who fired an 84, and juniors Leo Will (99) and Pravir Gorty (100). Earlier this season, the Panthers captured the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division championship. Blake Finneran was named the conference’s Outstanding Performer after winning every shootout and the league’s tournament. Joining Blake on the All-SBC River First Team was Joey Finneran while Gorty earned second team all-conference honors. SMCC has now won 16 conference titles in its rich history of boys golf. Before this season, the Panthers’ last league championship was when they went back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.

SMCC Boys Golf Sectional Runner-Ups

The St. Mary’s boys golf team earned a trip to districts after finishing runner-up at the Division III Sectional Tournament on Thursday at Green Hills Golf Course (par 71). The Panthers carded a team score of 335, securing second place and punching their ticket to next week’s district tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green.

It was a tale of two nines for St. Mary’s, as the team struggled early with a combined 45-over-par front nine. However, the Panthers responded with grit, cutting the damage to just 26-over on the back nine to clinch their spot in districts.

Senior Blake Finneran led the way, firing a steady 2-over-par 73 to tie for medalist honors. Joey Finneran followed with a strong 82, highlighted by a remarkable back nine where he played just 2-over-par 38 to finish 12th overall. Rounding out the scoring were Jack Davis (89), Leo Will (91), and Pravir Gorty (92).

Coach Sean Finneran praised his team’s resilience after a tough start: “I am very happy with how the boys finished their rounds today. They all did a great job bouncing back and finishing strong. It is a great accomplishment to make it out to districts as a team, and this is the second year in a row to do so. I know the boys will do their best to fine tune their game so they are up for the challenge at districts next week.”

SMCC Makes a Statement in Northern 8 Showdown

In a highly anticipated Northern 8 Conference showdown, two undefeated 4-0 teams met under the lights in front of a packed house at Lakeside. With the stands full on both sides, the SMCC Panthers faced their toughest challenge of the season, taking on fellow unbeaten Danbury in what proved to be a physical and telling matchup.

Despite a slow start offensively from both teams in the first quarter, the Panthers found their rhythm in the second, capitalizing on key opportunities to swing momentum in their favor. A few costly penalties threatened to disrupt their flow, but SMCC responded with poise, showcasing resilience and composure in the face of adversity.

The Panthers' starters delivered another strong performance, and several key injuries opened the door for depth players to step up—highlighting the overall strength of the roster. Whether it was the first team or backups on the field, the Panthers controlled the game on both sides of the ball, ultimately securing a commanding 33-8 victory.

With this win, SMCC improves to 5-0 on the season, extending their total scoring margin to an impressive 189-8. The defense continues to dominate, while the offense proves they can strike from anywhere on the field.

Up next, the Panthers return home to host St. Joe on Saturday, September 27th at historic Strobel Field. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM as SMCC looks to keep its perfect season alive in front of their home crowd.

Panther Boy’s Golf Captures SBC River Division Title with Season-Best Round

The St. Mary’s varsity boys golf team saved its best for when it mattered most.

On Tuesday at Eagle’s Landing Golf Club, the Panthers posted a season-low team score of 318 to win the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division title, showcasing the depth and consistency that has carried them all year.

Senior Blake Finneran set the tone with a medalist-winning round of 75, while teammates Pravir Gorty (79) and Jack Davis (81) each delivered career-best performances. Joey Finneran’s steady 83 sealed the four-player scoring, giving St. Mary’s the edge it needed in a competitive field.

The supporting cast also came through, as Leo Will (89) and Griffin Torrey (92) helped the Panthers place all six golfers inside the top 25. In fact, four St. Mary’s players finished in the top 10 overall, underscoring the team’s balance.

For the Panthers, the championship represents both a milestone and momentum, as the squad now turns its focus to postseason play.

Three Finalists: SMCC Sends All Seven to SBC Honorees

The Lady Panthers brought intensity, focus, and resilience to the courts this past Saturday at the SBC Bay Division Tournament, delivering one of their strongest performances of the season. Competing against top conference talent in Port Clinton, all seven SMCC players earned All-SBC honors, with three of the five positions advancing to their respective championship matches and the remaining two finishing tied for third.

It was a complete team effort, with standout performances across the board:

Individual Results:

• 1st Singles | Rachel Spicer – Advanced two rounds before finishing T-3rd | 2nd-Team All-SBC

• 2nd Singles | Caitlyn Collins – Reached the championship match and finished Runner-Up | 2nd-Team All-SBC

• 3rd Singles | Rae Roth – Fought her way into the championship match, finishing Runner-Up | 2nd-Team All-SBC

• 1st Doubles | Bella Matthews & Lauren Maxwell – Won two rounds to claim a T-3rd finish | 2nd-Team All-SBC

• 2nd Doubles | Grace Will & Nadia Maxwell – Made a strong run to the championship match, earning Runner-Up honors | 2nd-Team All-SBC

Following a tough match earlier in the week, the Panthers responded in championship fashion, showing grit and determination throughout the tournament. With multiple players reaching the finals and all contributing to the team’s success, it’s clear SMCC is peaking at the right time.

As they head into the final stretch of the season, the Lady Panthers are building serious momentum, playing their best tennis when it matters most.