"Fore-gotten" Sport

INTERVIEW W/ FORMER PLAYER RYAN KIRK (2020)

There have been several sports programs that have been shut down in the past at Messiah College. Most recently, Messiah dropped the golf program as a varsity sport on campus. The Falcons’ Golf program was discontinued in 2018 after 30 years of competing in the MAC Conference. Messiah’s first official NCAA varsity match was played on Apr. 5, 1988 against both Albright and Franklin & Marshall, while the last weekend of the program took place on April 28th 2017 at the MAC Championship in Hershey. 

Former golfer and current Senior here on campus Ryan Kirk was able to reflect back on his first... and last two years of Messiah’s golf program and how it has impacted his life since the program has been discontinued. Rather than harp on the fact that the golf program is no longer, it is only right that we revisit the most memorable moments in recent history for the golf program and more specifically, the last two years in the account of a former player.

When I was able to sit down with Ryan Kirk, he expressed that he did not expect the golf program to be terminated after his Sophomore year. “Our coach built a culture that made it seem as though this program would never be discontinued,” Kirk commented, while also thinking back to the many memorable experiences he and his teammates made in his two years with the team. Troy Boone seemed to have the most impact on the golf program as Messiah College’s coach as he mentored players and pushed them to new heights of success. For example, Justin Sisson (2015) - Messiah’s best ever individual finish in 2015 in the NCAA Tournament, tying for 21st overall. Boone also led Messiah’s golf program to their three MAC Championship titles in 2010, 2014, and 2015.

Ryan Kirk was coached by Coach Boone his freshman year, reflecting that Boone had done an exceptional job in not just coaching on the course but off the fairways and putting greens as well. “ He was already around when I came in as a freshman. Coach (Boone) was a very personable coach that connected to us and mentored us even outside of practice and matches.” Kirk even touched on some of the experiences that stood out to him the most as a freshman golfer on the team, going into detail on how Coach Boone set the team up with a spring break trip to Florida to match with other schools for the week. “Every day in Florida was either the beach or golf course. Coach took it upon himself to set us up with schools to play against and it was nothing but a great experience.”

Although Troy Boone built a specific culture and alumni connection within the golf program, Coach Pete Micklewright came in for the last year of Messiah College golf’s program with high expectations. Ryan Kirk stated that it was undoubtedly difficult for Micklewright to fill Boone’s shoes as head coach. “Coach Micklewright was put in a tough spot where it seemed as though he was unsure how close he should be to the team, considering the precedent Coach Boone had set prior to his succession.” Kirk also mentioned in the interview that regardless of Boone or Micklewright being their coach, he would still remember the great leadership the upperclassmen had that made it that much more enjoyable as well as an easy transition from the high school level to the collegiate level. 

We have had popular American sports such as golf and football come and go at this school, each being discontinued at one point or another but it is still important to reflect on the great memories of some of the sports that we no longer have, as for some of our students it still resonates in their lives due to the hard work, dedication, and life-long and unforgettable memories he or she will hold with their teammates on the field and on the course.