For the first time in 10 years, Cody Hasekamp is back on the golf course this spring.

This time, the Centralia graduate is taking over a Montgomery County golf team that enjoyed one of its best seasons in program history in 2022, finishing undefeated in match play, capturing championships in three tournaments – including the Eastern Missouri Conference tournament – and getting two all-state golfers.

Hasekamp replaced Robert Ripperdan, who stepped down after the 2022 season to take a teaching position at the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District.

“When I found out that Dr. Ripperdan was looking to take a new job, I immediately got in contact with (MCHS activities director Adam) Falloon and told him that I have quite a bit of experience with the sport,” said Hasekamp, who played golf all four years at Centralia. “I wanted to make sure that I have the opportunity to grow the sport in another generation. I know golf is not typically as popular as some of the other sports. I’m just getting a good group of kids out here. I want to continue to grow the sport and have another generation excited about playing golf.”

The Hasekamp era officially begins at 4 p.m. on March 23, when the Wildcats play Mexico, North Callaway, Van-Far and Clopton in a home match at Montgomery County Golf Club.

“It’s a little nerve-racking,” Hasekamp said. “I played for four years (in high school), so I know what it looks like from the player’s side, but I don’t necessarily know all of the administrative coaching stuff. I never coached golf before, but I coached kids and I know enough about the game to help them get better and push them to get better. We spend a lot of time working on the little things that can save strokes and cut our scores down.”

The Wildcats lost all-state medalists Keenan James and Logan Hutcheson, but return eight boys from last year’s team. Four of those boys -- seniors Alex Hartman and Keaton Reagan and juniors Robby Rodgers and Maddox James – were in the starting lineup in 2022.Hartman, Reagan and Rodgers earned all-Eastern Missouri Conference honors last spring.

“I have a core of four kids who will really help us compete,” Hasekamp said. “I fully expect us to win a lot of matches. If we could find that fifth piece, we’re going to be a pretty dangerous group.”

Seniors Garrett Banks and Adam Czerniewski, juniors Cade Smith and Jared Cluver and freshmen Karter Reagan and Wyatt March are the other boys on the squad. Hasekamp said he has high hopes for Karter, Keaton’s younger brother.

“He played a lot of golf here,” Hasekamp said. “He played a lot of golf in general. I know coming into the year, when he found out that I was going to coach, he was immediately very excited to get the opportunity to play. He’s got potential to be an all-conference kid from day one.”

MCHS has three girls on its team in seniors Marina Ridenhour and Addison Schluss and sophomore Kinsley Hutcheson. They all return from last year.

Hasekamp graduated from Centralia in 2013. He coached football for seven years, including the last three at MCHS.

“The fact that I’ve been out of school for 10 years is a little surreal to me because it doesn’t feel like it has been that long,” Hasekamp said. “I had a lot of good experiences between then and now.”