The Grays Harbor College men’s golf team is looking to make some noise this season and plans on using some fresh talent to do so.

The Chokers had to retool the roster in the off-season with three freshmen joining three returners from last year’s roster that finished third at the NWAC Championship meet.

This year’s team will have a smaller roster than last year as the numbers have dropped from eight in the 2018-19 season to just f this season. The group of golfers is comprised of returners Travis Bossio, Cooper Benfield and Dylan Christoffer and will be joined by freshmen Josh Burgher, Carson Hughes and Tyler Cassell.

The six-man roster will create a challenge for the Chokers as only the top four scores will be counted in tournaments, leaving little room for error if one of their golfers has a bad round.

Despite working with a smaller roster, the early-season tournaments have hinted at reasons for optimism.

Bossio has won three individual titles and is already receiving interest from a handful of Division I schools before the team has begun its NWAC schedule.

Bossio and the Chokers have concluded the fall portion of the schedule with the conclusion of a league match yesterday. After a long break, the season will resume in February.

Bossio credited his teammates with helping him maintain his high level of play and build on last year’s success.

“I love these guys. These guys are my best friends. We hang out and do everything together. I think we have the most fun out of any team in the conference,” he said. “There’s stress that goes on and you have to laugh about it almost. You have to hold each other accountable, but afterwards you laugh about it.”

Grays Harbor’s Travis Bossio, right, and Cooper Benfield work on trick shots during practice at Highland Golf Course on June 4. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)

Bossio figures to be a big part of leading a team that will rely heavily on younger pieces to round out the scoring.

Putting together this year’s roster wasn’t the easiest task for Grays Harbor coach Ann Swanson. She planned on having more golfers join the Chokers, but that proved difficult with potential recruits and some of last year’s golfers choosing to go elsewhere.

“One recruit came on for four days and left us to jump to another school. I had one guy (from last year’s team) quit,” she said. “We had another top recruit from Oregon who said he was coming for three months and then turned pro. It’s always a challenge so it’ll be an interesting year.”

Swanson didn’t get every player she wanted but is expecting big things out of Cassell, who she considers the top recruit from this year’s class. Cassell, a Black Hills graduate, finished his high school career strong by placing 13th at the 2A state tournament on May 23.

Cassell said an easy-going attitude could go a long way this season.

“It’s about staying relaxed. I Just wanted to take it all in in the first couple of tournaments and see what it’s truly like,” he said. “I wanted to learn from it and use it to be better.”

Cassell’s and Hughes are both Black Hills products while the addition of Hoquiam alum Josh Burgher adds a local recruit to the Chokers roster.

Christoffer said the younger golfers will need to find balance on and off the course in order to maintain some of the early success.

“I’m just giving them stuff I learned last year as far as balancing school work. You kind of just have to prioritize certain things to remain eligible,” he said. “As far as golf goes, you have to be willing to practice harder than you did in high school. If you don’t put in the work, you’re not going to win.”

Swanson is also looking at developing golfers who find success away from the links. She’s not sure where the season will lead her young team, but is hoping they leave the program with life skills to go along with their golf skills.

“I want to build a foundation of mental skills that will help them step into the biggest shot of their life with freedom and focus, whether it’s on the golf course or in life,” she said. “For me, the reward is to be able to see them perform with more awareness.”

Tyler Cassell, left, stands with Travis Bossio while holding the championship belt after winning an event at The Suncadia Resort on Oct. 12. (Submitted photo)