Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Boys Golf Social Media
Mid-Prairie head boys golf coach Kelby Bender was honored this week as the 2025 River Valley Conference boys golf Coach of the Year. The Golden Hawks finished this season with a 166 team average per nine holes and a 331 mark per 18. Individually, Denver Nelson, Ace Peck, Hudson Ehrenfelt and Clayton Davidson all held 42 averages per nine with Nelson and Bryce Henry at 84 per 18.
The Hawks finished as River Valley Conference team runners-up, by a single stroke, with a team score of 314, their best performance at the RVC Championship meet since a second place finish in 2019. They were 10th as a team in 2024. Henry led the Hawks this year, winning the individual River Valley title with a 73. He, Nelson, Peck and Ehrenfelt were All-Conference performers at the meet. Last year, Grayson Gingerich was the lone All-Conference selection. Bender spoke this week on the KCII PM Sports Page about what the award means to him and says about the program.
Bender said, “This is a really big honor. It’s something I’m super proud of because it’s voted on by conference coaches. They can see the work that’s being put into the program. For me as a coach to step back, yeah, I’m sure I have something to do with it but, I have really great kids. They all want to be at the golf course. They all work hard. They stay late. They get there early. They’re looking forward to the next practice, the next meet. It makes my job really easy when you have kids that want to work and get better at golf. It’s something I’m proud of. It’s a reflection on the program, the school, the players and the golf course that supports us so well. Really good for us!”
Mid-Prairie finished the year with a 45-20 overall record, their most wins since 2019.