WW-P North’s Warner branching out

Adds boys’ golf to coaching duties

By: Bob Nuse
   Trevor Warner is realistic enough to know he’s not going to make any major changes in the swings of his players on the West Windsor-Plainsboro North boys’ golf team.
   But he also knows that his experience as a coach in other sports will allow him to do things that can help make the players better.
   "I think going in I am realistic about what I am going to try to do," said Warner, who takes over as the Knights’ head coach from Doug Harman. "I am going to be able to help them. I am not going to be able to make huge changes to their swing, but there are some things where they’re rough around the edges where I can help.
   "I also think I can help them with their mental approach to the game. In any sport, if you’re mentally prepared and strong, I think you give yourself a chance to be successful."
   Warner has been the head boys’ soccer coach at WW-P North for seven years. He’s also coached baseball at WW-P Community Middle School for 11 years. When the head golf coach job came open, Warner figured it was time to make a move.
   "I did the baseball at the middle school for 11 years," Warner said. "This is a nice change. I enjoyed coaching baseball, but this is nice for me. I’m not a great player. I shoot in the high 80s when I play and some of these kids we have on the team can beat me pretty easily. I think I’ll be able to do some things that can help these kids.
   "In practice I have been telling them to just trust their swings. It’s so much different than coaching soccer or baseball because you can’t walk along with the players and tell them after each shot this is what they need to do."
   Warner has already been impressed with the players he has on his roster.
   "Some of the better players are fairly consistent, which is a big thing," Warner said. "We’ve got some good older players, like our captain Brett Horvath. He shot a 37 in our only scrimmage. And we’ve got some good freshmen, like Dan Trink, who is going to be a good player. He’s already shooting in the 30s. We have a lot of potential with these players."
   Warner is glad he is the coach getting the chance to help those players reach their potential. And he’s enjoying the opportunity to do so.
   "We’re working to be steady day-to-day," Warner said. "Consistency is a big thing for us. We have a lot of kids who are within a stroke or two of the top six. So nobody is going to be content with their spot. There are always players looking to break into the top.
   "This is a good opportunity and I’m looking forward to helping these kids be the best players they can be."