Owen Thompson is ready for the challenge of a new season.

With the 2024 campaign marking his fourth season as a member of the Warrenton boys golf team and as one of just two returning starters, the senior knows his time is now.

“I’ve been practicing a lot in the offseason with a big personal goal of making it to the state tournament this year,” Thompson said. “I also would like to be in the running for (GAC North) Conference Player of the Year. I know that a lot of work has got to go into the mental work required to play the game. I’ve had guys on this team come before me and teach me important things. This is a young team and I need to do my part to pass things on to them.”

Thompson will be at the forefront of a team that finished the 2023 season with a 5-2 dual record and several strong tournament finishes.

Thompson said he knows there is something of a clean slate for the team this season.

That’s the case because just he and junior Ethan Leavitt return to the links for the squad.

Warrenton coach Aaron Jinkerson said that, even though the calendar may have changed to a new season, the team’s goals remain largely unchanged.

“Last year, we had a very successful season,” Jinkerson said. “We competed well at the conference level and in tournaments. I think we can be just as successful as we were last season. Other than our top two guys, we’re going to be pretty inexperienced on the varsity level. We could be playing anywhere from three freshmen to a couple of juniors who are new to the team this year.”

Jinkerson pointed to freshmen Gavin Thompson, Gavin Solari, and Ty Cook as solid contributors while junior Lucas Eskew will compete for a line-up spot throughout the season.

The coach said that he plans on having everyone on the roster being in a position to hit the ground running as the season begins.

“I don’t have a coaching philosophy, per se, but I think it’s better to throw the young guys out there early on and let them face tougher competition,” Jinkerson said. “(That way) they can understand what it will be like as the season progresses and as they progress through their years of high school, for sure.”

Warrenton opened the season on March 25 at the Bogey Hills Invitational, a 20-team tournament. The Warriors open up the dual portion of the team’s schedule on March 27 against St. Charles.

Jinkerson said that he’s liked what he’s seen in the team’s preseason workouts and that he’s excited for what’s to come.

“So far the kids have really been working hard in practice,” Jinkerson said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how they’ve progressed.”