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A couple of offseason developments should add a little spice to the upcoming District 10 boys golf season.

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?

The winning shot from Strong Vincent’s 60-59 victory over Cathedral Prep Monday night:

Strong Vincent Colonels
Girls
Coach (season, record): Michael Romeo (5th season, 38-23-2)
2010 overall record: 7-9-2
2010 region record (place): 5-3-0 (tied for second)
2010 playoff results: Lost 4-3 in double overtime to Meadville in the District 10 Class AAA semifinals.
Top players lost: Brianna Opperman, Colleen Kresse, Halley Sonntag, Brisia Herrera, Emily Kessler
Top returning players: Rachel Burnett, Sarah Ritz, Stacy Rabat, Sandra Rabat
Assistant coaches: Frank Romeo, Gino Romeo
Outlook: Strong Vincent earned a District 10 playoff spot before losing a heartbreaker to Meadville in the semifinals in double overtime. The Colonels will need to reload the program quickly in order to return to the postseason. Vincent lost 11 seniors to graduation, including all-region selections Brisia Herrera, Colleenn Kresse, Halley Sonntag, Emily Kessler and goalkeeper Brianna Opperman. Coach Michael Romeo is stressing simplicity and uniformity throughout the program this fall and is working on getting every player’s fitness level on the same level as some of the area’s powerhouses. Vincent returns several talented players, including all-region selections Rachel Burnett and Sarah Ritz as well as Stacy and Sandra Rabat. Vincent’s focus early on will be building chemistry and developing the team and later in the season the Colonels hope to have the early work pay off.

Schedule
September
7 Hickory 6:30
8 at North East 4
10 at Fairview 10 a.m.
14 Meadville* 6:30
19 at Central Tech* 4:30
21 East* 6:30
24 at McDowell* 4:30
28 at Villa Maria 7
October
3 Warren 4:30
5 at Corry 4
11 at Meadville* 7
12 East* 4:30
13 Central Tech* 4:30
18 McDowell* 4:30
23 Mercyhurst Prep 1
26 North East 6:30

Note: information not submitted by the Strong Vincent boys coach.

Friday: Titusville

– Tom Reisenweber

Strong Vincent Colonels
Coach (season, record): Scott White (2nd season, 4-6)
2010 overall record: 4-6
2010 region record (place): 3-3 (fourth)
2010 playoff results: Lost 35-7 to State College in a PIAA Class AAAA subregional.
Top players lost: Andre Evans, Aaron Bell, Tony Twillie, Raheem Smith, Kareem Smith, Josh Marques
Top returning players: Denzel Jones, Corey Henry, Kyle Bogel, Matt Rodgers, Blake Quirk, Tashan Mitchell, Chris Kirkland
Assistant coaches: Dan Olson, John Ferraro, Tracy Lindsey, Kevin Boxer, Joe Gabbard, Justin Griffith, Scott Bylerly, Andrew Parker, Jim Grygier, Jim Fuller, Alan Kavelish and Sean Carlson
Outlook: Strong Vincent coach Scott White is looking for a leader to step up this year. The Colonels lost their leadership halfway through last fall and Vincent exited the PIAA playoffs in a subregional. Denzel Jones could be that leader in his third year as the starting quarterback. Jones is a speedy dual-threat to throw and run with the ball and could emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in District 10 this season. In the backfield he will have Mike Neavins returning along with Chris Kirkland. Also back are Corey Henry, Kyle Bogel, Matt Rodgers, Blake Quirk and Tashan Mitchell. Quirk has size at 6 feet, 5 inches to anchor the line, while Bogel and Mitchell could be big contributors on the line as well. Vincent will need to develop a strong backfield and some positions on defense in order to advance further in the playoffs this fall. The Colonels ran into some turnover and discipline problems in the PIAA playoffs against State College. Vincent will have a nine-game schedule to prepare and improve this year, including games against powerhouse teams like General McLane, Cathedral Prep and North East.

Schedule
September
2 at General McLane 7
10 Fort LeBoeuf* 7
16 at Cathedral Prep* 7
23 Warren* 7
30 at East* 7
October
7 at Oil City 7
15 at Central Tech* 7
22 North East 7
28 Bradford* 7
November
4 Bye

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.

Friday: Titusville

– Tom Reisenweber