Two D-10 players have starred during the summer — Chris Kupniewski and Brett Rinker.

Both players already had sparkling resumes, but both have taken their games to new, lofty levels.

Kupniewski is a senior at Northwest Collegiate Academy and a member of the Strong Vincent golf team. He accomplished an unprecedented feat in Erie Tuesday when he won the EDGA Junior Stroke Play title for his third straight EDGA Junior championship. He not only won, he dominated, shooting a first-round 67 and coasting to a seven-shot victory.

Kupniewski’s run of titles began last August when he rallied from a five-shot deficit to win the EDGA Junior Stroke Play. In June, he dominated on the way to winning the EDGA Junior Match Play title.

Meanwhile, Rinker has been showing his talents on a grander stage. The Slippery Rock senior qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur when he fired a two-round 141 for a five-shot victory at a Sectional June 25 at Somerset Country Club.

This week Rinker competed in the 36-hole stroke play portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur at the Golf Club of New England in Stratham, N.H. Rinker was among 156 players aiming for one of 64 spots in the match-play portion of the event. He shot an opening-round 74 Monday and carded a 38 on the front nine Tuesday. However, he struggled to a 43 on the back nine and tied for 84th with a 155 total.

Both players had superb 2011 high school seasons. Rinker tied for second in the D-10 tournament and was the Region 2 player of the year.

Kupniewski tied for fifth in the D-10 tournament and shared the Region 6 player of the year award with Cathedral Prep’s Cameron Zbrzeznj.

Kupniewski and Rinker will be the favorites to win the District 10 tournament. Although the PIAA split the golf field into two enrollment classifications for the first time this season, both Kupniewski and Rinker will compete in Class AAA.

Both are being considered for the Erie Times-News District 10 Preseason Player of the Year award. Either would be a great choice.

Which one would you pick?

Schedule
September
13 Wilmington* 7:15
15 at Grove City* 7:15
20 Hickory* 7:15
22 at Mercer* 7:15
27 Meadville* 7:15
29 at Sharon* 7:15
October
4 at Greenville* 7:15
6 at Wilmington* 7:15
11 Grove City* 7:15
13 at Hickory* 7:15
18 Mercer* 7:15
20 at Meadville* 7:15
25 Sharon* 7:15
27 Greenville* 7:15

Saturday: Union City, Villa Maria, Warren

– Tom Reisenweber

Schedule
September
2-3 Harbor Creek tournament
6 at West Middlesex 4
8 Wilmington 4
12 at Sharpsville 4
14 Mercer 4
20 at Kennedy Catholic 4
26 Conneaut Valley* 5:30
28 at Grove City* 7:30
October
1 at Hickory* 1
4 Commodore Perry* 5:30
10 at Sharon* 4
12 at Conneaut Valley* 4
18 Grove City* 5:30
20 at Commodore Perry* 4
22 at General McLane 2
24 Hickory* 4
26 Sharon* 4

Girls
Coach (season, record): Les Smith (5th season, 58-17-5)
2010 overall record: 16-2-2
2010 region record (place): 5-0-1 (champion)
2010 playoff results: Lost 2-1 to Villa Maria in the District 10 Class AA semifinals.
Top player lost: Molly Wietzel
Top returning players: Danielle Wissinger, Morgan Siebka, Jordan Marks, Casey Dudek, Rachael Caldwell, Charlene Doerr, Harley Boyd
Assistant coach: Bill Zimmerman
Outlook: Slippery Rock had a solid 2010 season, including a region championship and a heart-breaking one-goal loss in the District 10 semifinals. The Rockets have almost every back from last year’s team and could be a power once again this season. Slippery Rock will have to replace the offense left by graduate Molly Weitzel, a first-team all-region member. The Rockets have several all-region players back, including Danielle Wissinger, Jordan Marks, Morgan Siebka, Casey Dudek, Rachael Caldwell, Charlene Doerr and Hardley Boyd. A big key will be staying healthy this year but Slippery Rock should be a threat in the postseason once again.

Schedule
September
2-3 Harbor Creek tournament
7 Bishop Canevin 4:30
10 at Karns City 2
13 Mercer 4
15 at West Middlesex 4
21 at Sharpsville* 4
24 Fairview noon
27 Grove City* 4
29 Sharon* 4
October
3 at Kennedy Catholic 4
5 at Hickory* 7:30
11 Sharpsville* 4
13 at Grove City* 4
17 at Sharon* 4
19 at Wilmington 7:30
22 at General McLane 12:30
25 Hickory* 4

Thursday: Strong Vincent

– Tom Reisenweber

The Rockets have a solid line from last year and had a good offseason in the weight room. The biggest key will be limiting turnovers. Slippery Rock has a brutal road game to start the year at Wilmington before a home opener against Franklin. The Rockets will need to come together as a team quickly in camp in order to improve on last year’s winless season.

Schedule
September
2 at Wilmington 7
9 Franklin* 7
16 at DuBois* 7
23 Meadville* 7
30 at Corry* 7
October
7 Sharon 7
14 at Hickory 7
21 at Grove City* 7
28 Oil City* 7
November
4 Greenville 7

Look for the Kickoff magazine at a Country Fair near you beginning Aug. 15. The 112-page magazine previews the upcoming District 10 football season, including top returning players, schedules, stats and more.

Thursday: Strong Vincent

– Tom Reisenweber