NORTH ROBINSON — The area golf season kicks off earlier that others sports this season. Most start next week, a full two weeks before the first day of school for most area students.

At Colonel Crawford High School, coaches Brett Kaple and Nate Hill are preparing their golfers for what is sure to be a competitive season in the Northern-10 Athletic Conference.

Kaple is entering his 13th year as a coach and Hill is entering his fifth season. Last year, the Eagles posted an overall record of 5-11 while finishing at 1-7 in the N-10.

In 2017, the Eagles squad will have to swing their way through the competition without Nick Gremling. Gremling graduated in June and was a district qualifier and a member of the N-10 second-team in his final season as a member of the Eagles.

Eli Shultz headlines the returning golfers for Crawford. Shultz, a senior, is a two-year letter winner for coach Kaple. Also returning to the tees for the Eagles are: Marcus Fagan (senior), Andrew Daubenspeck (junior), Andrew Johnson (junior) and Andrew Brause (junior). All are one-year letter winners for Colonel Crawford.

Joining the Eagles this season is sophomore Gavin Feichtner.

“(Gavin) will have an impact on our team,” Kaple said. “He didn’t play last year, but he’s a great athlete and a stand-out on the basketball court and baseball field. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do on the golf course.”

Colonel Crawford’s golfers are looking forwardto improving every time that they step onto the golf course this season.

“The N-10 is going to be tough with four or five teams competing for first place,” Kaple said of the 2017 conference outlook. “Upper Sandusky, Carey, Ridgedale, Seneca East and Buckeye Central are all going to be near the top of our league.”

The Eagles will begin their 2017 campaign at home against Plymouth on Monday, Aug. 7 and is set to conclude on Tuesday, Sept. 19 with the N-10 tourney to be played at Valley View. Colonel Crawford plays its home matches at Valley View Golf Course.