Playing in District Tournament Last Year is “Driving Tool” for Crager and the Warrior Team
Worthington Christian High School senior golfer Curtis Crager isn’t dwelling on last season’s near miss at the Division II district tournament. He’s using it as motivation.
Crager tied three other golfers for fifth place after shooting a 78 at the district tournament at Turnberry Golf Course. The top team and the lowest-scoring individual not on a qualifying team advance to the OHSAA state tournament.
“I want to learn from my mistakes,” he said. “It’s a good driving tool for this year. You have to play under pressure to do better next time.
“(Playing at the district tournament) brought me to a different level. The improvement in my iron and wedge game is helping me make a lot more birdies. That helps offset (the occasional) bad hole and keeps my score lower.”
As the Warriors gear up for the season, coach Aaron Steininger has noticed some big improvements in Crager’s game.
“Going to the district tournament was huge for Curtis,” Steininger said. “He proved to himself that he can compete with the best players in Division II. I think he’s got a legitimate shot to make the state tournament.”
The bigger question for Worthington Christian is who else is ready to take that next step. The Warriors graduated Chase Crawford, who shot an 85 at the sectional tournament, and Cody Thomas, who alternated between golf and playing goalkeeper for the boys soccer team, from last year’s team. Additionally, junior Garrison Burns, who finished with an 89, left this year.
Steininger, however, feels a little more comfortable at the start of the year than he did at the beginning of the 2025 season. After graduating three members of the 2024 team, the golf coach learned that one of his top returnees had transferred and that another had decided not to play golf.
Crager, an all-Central Buckeye League first-team selection, earned an individual berth for the district tournament after shooting a 73 to tie Amanda-Clearcreek’s Caiden Riddle for third place at the Oakhaven sectional tournament.
As a team, the Warriors shot 337 to finish fifth behind champion Buckeye Valley (304), Johnstown (312), River Valley (312), and Amanda-Clearcreek (331). Only the top two teams and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team advanced to the district.
“When we were in Division III, we were used to just showing up at the sectional tournament every year and advancing to the district,” Steininger said. “It was a formality. Now you have to play well just to get out of the sectional round.”
The Warriors return three of their top five golfers from the sectional tournament. Joining Crager are junior Nathan DeMarco, an all-league honorable mention, and sophomore Peter Winfrey. DeMarco carded a 90 and Winfrey recorded a 104 at the 2025 sectional tournament.
“Nathan’s going into his second year on varsity, so he will be a key contributor and a team leader,” Steininger said.
Expected to figure into the team’s lineup are junior AJ Dotson, sophomore Quinton Testa, and freshmen Wyatt Bumgarner, Carter Gantz, Haryson Haslinger, Brandon Mulpas, and Oliver Wenzel. Steininger hopes those young players can start laying a foundation for the future while contributing this year.
“We’re going to be a pretty good team the next couple of years if they stick together,” he said.
That roster will be challenged by a demanding Central Buckeye League schedule. The league features Columbus Academy, which has won 12 state championships, second only to Upper Arlington (17). Bexley and Worthington Christian have each won a title, and Buckeye Valley was the Division II state runner-up last year.
Last season, Worthington Christian finished fourth in the league with a 9-9 record behind Columbus Academy (17-1), Buckeye Valley (16-2), and Bexley (12-6). However, the coach believes playing against that caliber of team on a weekly basis pays off in the end.
“It’s a help playing with Bexley, Academy, and Buckeye Valley in the CBL,” Steininger said. “It forces us to compete every time we tee it up. We just focus on playing our best, competing with integrity, and letting the scores take care of themselves. “We’re definitely a young team, but there’s a lot to like. If this group continues to grow together, I think we’ll surprise some people. Chemistry matters in golf just as much as talent, and if we get both, we’ll have a chance to play some really good golf this season.”