WAYNESBORO, Pa. – There was a time when the Waynesboro Area Senior High School varsity golf team was at the top of the Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division season after season.
But not lately. Waynesboro is coming off a 15-27 season in 2025, lending credibility to the “cycle of talent” theory of high school sports.
It’s also what keeps the fire burning in head coach Ryan Henderson, who has been coaching golf for 31 years, 27 years at the varsity level.
“I love what I do, and I’m very thankful to be able to do it,” said Henderson, whose team begins the drive for relevance at Waynesboro Country Club on Monday, Aug. 17 against Chambersburg, Gettysburg, Greencastle-Antrim, Northern and Shippensburg. “I enjoy watching the players develop and improve as I share my knowledge and skills with them. That’s what keeps me coming back year after year. The players keep me going.”
Ryan Jenkins, Dom Goodworth and Elijah Miller were lost to graduation.
But it’s the returning linksters – Caiden Shacreaw, Rylan Nichols, Landon Crable and Abby Byers – that has Henderson excited about the season. Byers was the only one in the group of returners to make it to the postseason, advancing to the second day of the District 3 tournament.
“In addition to the aforementioned senior returners, I have senior Caroline Bercaw, who will be a first-year player. I also have a sophomore, Zach Bachtell, and freshman Ale Showaker,” said Henderson.
“I am very happy to have all my seniors this year. It was great to see them today and eager to get back out there on the course.”
So what does Henderson expect out of the squad this season?
“I won’t know until we have our first match at home next Monday,” Henderson said. “We will see where we stand afterwards. I expect Abby to make it deep into the postseason again this year. I also think my senior boys have a good shot at going to postseason this year as well. This is their last chance to do so. It’s been a great run, and I hope they are all successful.”
Below is the 2026 schedule:
Monday, Aug. 17-Waynesboro Country Club, Waynesboro, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19-Penn National Founders Course, Fayetteville, 12 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 24-Gettysburg National Golf Course, Gettysburg, 11:20 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 26-Greencastle Greens, Greencastle, 12 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 28-Range End Golf Course, Dillsburg, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 1-Range End Golf Course, Dillsburg, 12 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 8-Chambersburg Country Club, Chambersburg, 2 p.m.
