The golf community has extended a helping hand to an Ohio high school team devastated by a tornado that killed one player’s father, demolished the school and leveled some of the players’ homes.

The tornado ripped through Millbury, near Toledo, late June 5, with winds reportedly reaching 165 mph.

Terry Tansel, a business and computers teacher who coaches varsity golf at Lake High School, met his team for its scheduled workout early June 8. Casey Blank, a sopho- more, and Michael Kranz, an incoming freshman, showed up despite personal hardship. They live in a neighborhood destroyed by the twister, with their personal belongings – including their golf equipment and shoes – lost.

“The clothes on their back was all they walked away with,” said Tansel, a fifth-year coach.
Kranz lost far more than most. His father, Ted, was killed and his older sister, Katie, the school valedictorian, had her graduation postponed by the twister.
Tansel reached out to Dominic Antenucci, executive director of the Northern Ohio PGA Section, and asked for assistance. The team lost its bags, balls, umbrellas and rain gear in the storm.

Within hours, Antenucci had the team fully outfitted. His contacts at Titleist and FootJoy stepped up to provide equipment, balls and shoes for Blank and Kranz. Nike gave the boys $500 gift cards for apparel, and Adidas donated home and away uniforms for the entire team.

Antenucci also invited the golfers to partner with him and one of their friends in a junior 4-ball tournament at Firestone Country Club on June 27, arranged lessons for the team from local pros and organized for the team to play Highland Meadows Golf Club, home of the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, after the event next month.
Tansel, for one, is grateful for the outpouring of support amid such tragedy.

“It speaks volumes of the golf community,” Tansel said. “I always tell the kids that golf can be a great way to meet great people, and this proves my point.”

– Adam Schupak, GolfWeek, June 18, 2010