By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, August 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Shadows and Silhouettes Photography
Quaker Valley senior Makenna Kamnikar competes at the 2025 Sewickley Heights Junior Club golf championship.
Shadows and Silhouettes Photography
Quaker Valley senior Makenna Kamnikar competes at the 2025 Sewickley Heights Junior Club golf championship.
Courtesy of Elizabeth Garvey
Quaker Valley golfer Will Newlin is entering his senior season in 2025.
Courtesy of John Doucette
Quaker Valley golfer Will Newlin is entering his senior season in 2025.
Shadows and Silhouettes Photography
Quaker Valley senior Makenna Kamnikar competes at the 2025 Sewickley Heights Junior Club golf championship.
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Three Quaker Valley golfers qualified for the PIAA Class 2A individual championships last season.
Two were seniors — Ethan Dai and Nolan Wagoner — who ended their high school golf careers at the Penn State Blue Course.
The third qualifier — Makenna Kamnikar — is back this season. Kamnikar finished 33rd in the Class 2A girls tournament as a junior last year.
“I know Makenna has worked hard in the offseason for herself and her team,” QV coach Greg Vecchi said. “She is a hard worker who doesn’t make excuses. I believe she’ll be closer to the top of the WPIAL individual standings in September.”
Kamnikar placed seventh in the WPIAL tournament with a 191 score. The final round took place at Butler Country Club.
She said qualifying for the state championships was one of her goals for the season.
“My experience at states was fun,” Kamnikar said. “It was my first year qualifying, and I was super excited to go. I’m really grateful for Ethan Dai and Nolan Wagoner for making my experience more enjoyable and taking some of the pressure off.
“The Penn State courses are beautiful, and it’s such a unique experience to meet new girls who share the same passion as me. I hope to be back again.”
Kamnikar is putting in the work required to make the return trip to State College.
“I think my game is the strongest it’s ever been,” she said, “and after the work I’ve been putting in over the offseason, I have a stronger mindset and I’m really excited to get to compete again.
“This season is really important to me as it’s my senior season, so I’m going into it with a positive mindset and I’m excited to play my best golf yet.”
Kamnikar has been a member of the QV boys golf program for four years and competes for the girls swim team in the winter months.
“Playing golf on a boys team definitely has some challenges,” she said, “but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I was super happy to be joined on varsity (last year) by my younger brother Joseph as he made it on the team as a freshman. I think it’s super cool that I’m able to play on the same team as my brother. We constantly push each other to get better.
“And I’m planning to swim again in the winter while balancing my offseason golf work at Kuhn Golf Academy.”
Kamnikar believes a strong 2024-25 offseason by the QV linksters should lead to positive results this fall.
“My expectations for the team are high,” she said. “I think our senior class is really strong and we should be good competition. The underclassmen on our team, I think, will also be really strong. Everyone definitely put in lots of work over the offseason, and from what I can tell, it’s paying off.”
Will Newlin, another senior, is a top candidate for a leading role on the 2025 golf squad at QV.
“Will was solid last year,” Vecchi said. “I see him as improving and helping the team even more this season.”
Newlin is another fourth-year varsity golfer for the Quakers.
“I am just hoping to provide leadership and enjoy my last year of high school golf,” Newlin said. “It’s my senior season, so I hope to play some great golf, but more importantly, I’m just excited to enjoy the ride.
“As with any team early in the year, I’m optimistic it’s going to be a great season. It seems like we have a great group of players.”
Newlin and his dad Billy tied for second place this summer at the Ed Habjan Memorial Parent/Child Championship at Wildwood Golf Club in Allison Park in a PGA Tri-State Junior Tour event.
Newlin, who considers his short game to be his strength on the links, turned in a career-best even-par 72 score last summer at Osprey Point Golf Course on Kiawah Island, S.C.
Two other golfers looking to have an impact on the team’s fortunes in ‘25 are seniors Ryan Dusch and Henry Zupanc.
Vecchi is looking for consistency from all four upperclassmen, including Dusch and Zupanc.
“It was a little bit of a down year for Ryan last year,” Vecchi said, “but I know if he became a bit more consistent, he’ll be a big help.
“And I can see Henry being a big help in the top six this season. He told me he’s ready to go.”
Two of the younger competitors on the team are Joseph Kamnikar and Ty Stofko, both sophomores.
“Joseph had a great year as a freshman,” Vecchi said. “I know he’s really excited to get back to competition after putting in the time during the offseason.
“Ty had a solid freshman season, as well. He’ll look to be more consistent with his play and scoring to help the team more.”
QV compiled an 8-3-1 overall record in 2024 and tied for first with North Catholic in Section 9-2A, both at 8-2.
“We look to compete for the section and WPIAL titles this season,” Vecchi said. “We’re looking forward to another season. This team has a lot of experience, but they still have to work hard and focus to win some titles.”
QV finished fifth in Class 2A last year at the WPIAL team championship at Cedarbrook Golf Course. The Quakers started out 3-0 in ‘24 and after a loss to North Catholic went 4-0-1 in their next five matches.
“Our season had great moments and some underachieving,” Vecchi said. “We didn’t put great team scores together often, but when we did, it showed that we could hang with any team in Class 2A.”
Sophomore Addy Davis also is aiming to offer her share of contributions on the team this year.
“Addy will be vying for a varsity position after a busy offseason,” Vecchi said. “She loves the game.”
QV’s golf season begins in earnest in late August with consecutive home matches at Sewickley Golf Club against Hopewell, Sewickley Academy and Central Catholic.
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