With new boys’ coach, golf power American Heritage hopes to see same results
Brandt Moser is stepping back, but American Heritage is marching on in search of more state titles.
For the first time since the 1995-96 school year, Moser is no longer Heritage’s boys’ coach. Moser, 61, has been replaced by Nick Pincket, 34.
Moser, who still holds the title of director of boys’ and girls’ golf at Heritage, went out on top as a coach as he led Heritage to the Class 2A state title last year. It was the program’s fourth state title, with all of those trophies won under Moser.
Even so, Moser is humble about the coaching change.
“I think it will be a blessing,” Moser said. “Nick is young, and he has a lot of energy. I had to finally put somebody in charge who has more technology savvy and who understands kids a little bit better than old-school me.”
Moser said that – for the past decade -- he has been telling Pincket that he would one day replace him.
Pincket, who coached Cardinal Gibbons the past three years, finally agreed to make the move.
The new coach is a teaching professional at Plantation Reserve, and he comes in with a lot of new ideas.
“We want to make this like a mini-college program – how to practice, what to practice and even when to practice,” Pincket said. “We’re going to build in some rest days to guard against burnout.
“Our boys don’t know it yet, but we will have a fitness and nutrition coach coming in, and we will have team-bonding outings such as go-carting, paint ball and/or laser tag.”
Pincket, who lives less than three miles from the Heritage campus, also plans an event where the school’s alumni golfers compete against the current kids.
With Moser still available for consultation, Pincket said he hopes that combination gives Heritage a “leg up” on the competition.
“Moser is such a good people person, coach, motivator and all of the above,” Pincket said. “I’m well known for being a good instructor for junior golfers. I can see things in terms of a swing or a strategy.”
While Pinckett inherits a state-championship program, he will not have Luke Clanton, who is now golfing for Florida State. Clanton won three individual state titles in his career, and he will be tough to replace.
However, Heritage returns two first-team All-Broward golfers: junior Aiden Arce and eighth-grader Sohan Patel. The three other returners from the state-title team are seniors Tyler Lindh, Rafael Frias and John Pineiro.
In addition, junior Thomas Kirby – a transfer from Georgia – has been impressive in camp.
Meanwhile, the Heritage girls’ golf program – which leads Florida with 10 state titles – continues to roll under coach Mike Carlin.
The Heritage girls this year will be going for their third straight state title. They will also shoot for their seventh state title since 2013.
This year, Carlin will have to try to replace Kelly Shanahan, who is now playing for FIU.
However, Carlin returns three standouts: juniors Katherine Schaefer and Alessandra Tabora and seventh-grader Laura Monsalve.
“We have about five girls competing for the final two spots, and we’re hoping for some surprises,” Carlin said. “I don’t want to jinx myself, but I’m fairly confident we can do well at state.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Key dates - This week: Regular season matches began; Thursday: Lady Maverick Invitational at Grand Palms Golf Course; Aug. 30: Westminster Christian Invitational at Biltmore; Sept. 9: Palm League Boys’ Invitational at PGA National Golf Club; Sept. 20: Palm League Girls’ Invitational at Normandy Shores; Youth Fair Boys’ Invitational at Country Club of Miami; Sept. 21: Youth Fair Girls’ Invitational at Country Club of Miami; Sept. 28: Morrison Invitational at Fort Lauderdale CC; Oct. 3: Maverick Invitational at Grand Palms Golf and Country Club; Oct. 17: GMAC championship at Redland; BCAA championship at Country Club of Coral Springs; Oct. 24-26: Districts; Oct. 31-Nov. 2: Regionals; Nov. 8-9: 3A state meet in Howey-in-the-Hills; Nov. 11-12: 1A state meet in Howey-in-the-Hills; Nov. 15-16: 2A state meet in Howey-in-the-Hills.
▪ Columbus, which finished third at state last year in Class 3A, returns three seniors who made first-team All-Dade in 2021: Hans Risvaer, Andres Atrio and Sebastian Kawas. Columbus also returns seniors Max Fonseca and Christian Figueredo, who both made second-team All-Dade.
▪ Florida Christian’s boys are led by senior Nicholas Prieto, who finished fifth in the state as an individual in 2021 and is the reigning Golfer of the Year for Miami-Dade. Florida Christian also added two transfers from True North: senior Dylan Grassbaugh and sophomore Kevin Corzo.
▪ The Pine Crest boys won a regional title last year and finished 11th at state. They return two first-team All-Broward players in seniors Sam Brown and Robbie Hlatki. Sophomore Alexander Weinberg made second-team All-Broward.
▪ North Broward Prep’s boys’ team is led by senior Sean Richards, who has made first-team All-Broward as a sophomore and second-team as a junior. Richards, who had a 4.2 grade-point average as a junior, set the school record last year with a nine-hole score of 31. The Eagles’ girls are led by Aryanah Ahmad.
▪ Cardinal Gibbons’ boys’ team is led by Hudson Hall, who has a “textbook swing and a great golf mind,” according to his coach, Zachary Griffin. Garrett Weadock, who is the other team leader, hits for great distance and is strong mentally.
▪ Carrollton is led by seventh-grader Fernanda Carrion, who finished third in the Youth Fair; and junior Andrea Montaner, who had a great summer and is much improved. Eighth-grader Petra Compton hits the ball a long way, and she is the daughter of PGA player Erik Compton.
▪ Archbishop McCarthy’s girls will be led by junior Eva Almaguer and sophomores Cindi Cooper and Audrey Bacic. The boys are led by juniors Ryan Lopez and Brett Moore.
▪ Rivera Prep’s girls’ team is led by senior Alexandra Ragan, who made second-team All-Dade last year. Seventh-grader Danielle Hernandez and eighth-graders Miranda Borges and Danica Ortega are emerging stars.
▪ Palmer Trinity’s girls’ team is led by sophomore Remi Bacardi, who won a district title and the Youth Fair last year and won Miami-Dade Girls’ Golfer of the Year honors. As a team, Palmer returns eight girls as it goes for its fourth straight district title.
▪ Western’s boys’ team is led by senior Frankie Nowakowski. Junior Kierra William, who finished second at regionals last year, leads the girls’ team.
▪ Ransom Everglades’ boys’ team is led by junior Jackson Langer, who hits with power and finesse. The Raiders’ girls are led by freshman Angela Jiang and sophomore Kate Khvorostiana.
▪ Westminster Christian’s girls are led by sophomores Jaden Bradford and Emily Nasar and eighth-grader Madeline Emery.
▪ Westminster Academy is led by senior Sam Davey, who won the Kings Academy Invitational last season.
▪ Gulliver’s boys’ team is led by senior Krishan Nanda, and the girls’ team is led by senior Victoria Paesano.
▪ Divine Savior’s boys’ team is led by juniors Daniel Vanasoste, Ignacio Asin and Santiago Espinosa.
▪ Miami Country Day’s boys’ team is led by senior Sam Netkin.
▪ Sophomore transfer Matias Saavedra leads the Palmer Trinity boys’ team.
▪ Lourdes is led by sophomore Megan Bermejo.
▪ South Broward’s girls will be led by sophomore Lindsay Perrin.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 8:00 AM.