AMES - Wrapping up their season on a high note, the Humboldt boys golf team took third place at the Class 3A state meet this weekend at the Ames Golf and Country Club.
The Wildcats fired a 653 two-round total (323-330). Decorah (308-308-616) and North Central Conference rival Clear Lake (323-327-650) paced the field.
"We were talking before we went down (to Ames) about how getting in the top five would be a real good finish," said HHS head coach Scott Birdsell. "Once again, the same thing that happened all year, if someone had an off round then someone else would step up for us. All six of our guys had counting scores, so it wasn't just four people.
"We're pretty excited with the accomplishment. The last time Humboldt had been to state was 1995, and some of our kids weren't even born then."
Competing for the Wildcats in their 14th state appearance in school history were freshman Christian Birdsell (81-82-163), freshman Jaxon Heinz (78-86-164), junior Colton Schnetzer (86-80-166), junior Landon Schnetzer (84-82-166) and seniors Peyton Vote (82-88-170) and Dylan Nelson (82-91-173).
"The conditions were tough, the greens were fast and the pins were in hard places," Birdsell said. "We started off slow again, but we had a good back nine. I was extremely proud of our kids. When we came into this season, our goal to strive for was finishing in the upper half of the North Central Conference.
"We have a bright future ahead of us, but we need to keep working hard in the offseason."
Centerville freshman Alex Moorman (73-74-147) captured individual medalist honors, while senior Nick Nelson (77-73-150) of Decorah turned in a runner-up showing.