By Mike May
Will McGuinness is the latest Franklin Community High School (FCHS) golfer to commit to playing college golf. Earlier this summer, he made the decision to attend DePauw University in Greencastle to pursue a degree in economics and play for the university’s men’s golf team.
McGuinness is the sixth recent FCHS graduate to play collegiately. Damon Dickey, Quin Edwards, Ellie Beavins, Liv Parramore and Ava Ray have all joined the college golf ranks. Legends Golf Club General Manager Ted Bishop, who also coaches the FCHS golf team alongside Legends Golf Club Head Professional Crystal Morse, is extremely proud of the academic and athletic growth shown by McGuinness.
“Will McGuinness and I started this golf journey three years ago,” said Bishop. “He epitomizes perseverance, tenacity, hard work and resilience. Will has improved more than any student I have had in 46 years of being a golf professional. For me personally, there are none more gratifying than Will McGuinness.”
Bishop agrees that McGuinness, who has a six handicap, is an ideal fit for DePauw University.
“Will has a 4.33 GPA and an SAT score of 1540 and has aspirations of getting into politics,” added Bishop.
According to Bishop, McGuinness had a standout senior season for the Grizzly Cubs of FCHS.
“Will was our team MVP this year and he played number one for our team,” noted Bishop. “He made All-Conference and helped Franklin win the Mid-State Conference title. Last year (as a junior), he shot a career-low 76 in the Regional and helped FCHS make its first appearance as a team in the IHSAA Boys State Finals in 35 years. He capped off this year by being named to the IHSGCA Academic All-State team.”
While golf is an individual sport, at the high school and college levels, it is very much a team sport. Bishop knows that McGuinness understands the team element of high school and college golf.
“Will was our only senior,” said Bishop. “Our team started Will, three sophomores and a freshman. He led by example on and off the golf course, including the weight room and classroom. He blended well with the younger guys and this team had tremendous chemistry because they loved to just hang out with each other. Will was instrumental in that and not many seniors would do that with a bunch of younger guys.”
While McGuinness is looking forward to life as a collegiate student-athlete, he’s going to miss his time with Bishop and Morse.
“I owe a lot to both Coach Bishop and Coach Morse,” said McGuinness. “They have both been mentors for me in golf and in life. The opportunities that I have had in golf because of Coach Bishop and Coach Morse have been awesome.”
Even though McGuiness will soon be a DePauw Tiger, he’ll always be a Franklin Grizzly Cub at heart.
