Minot High sophomore Parker Argent was an all-state and all-WDA selection last year after leading the Magicians in scoring with an average round of 77.46 Photo by Sean Arbaut

Rarely would a team with no seniors on the roster be considered as experienced as one that was senior-loaded.

Yet, the Minot High boys golf team might be one of the more experienced teams across the West Region entering the 2026 campaign despite being devoid of seniors in the lineup. But that’s nothing new for the Magicians in recent memory, as they only had one senior on the roster last year.

With just one upperclassmen on the roster over the past two years, several underclassmen started gaining varsity experience as eighth graders and freshmen. Now as seasoned veterans despite being only sophomores and juniors, Minot High is looking to showcase that experience to the rest of the state.

“The expectation around the program is to make a run for things,” Minot High coach Michael DeLorme said, “You look at the talent we return and the talent that was lost throughout the conference, we’ve got the talent that can compete for a WDA title and if we put everything together at the right time, I think we can be right there at the state tournament at the end, too.”

Fischer Johnson is the lone departure for the Magicians. Currently a member with the Minot State golf team, Johnson finished seventh at WDA with a team-best 75, guiding Minot High to a third-place finish at the tournament behind Bismarck Century and Minot North. He also carded the best two-day total at state for the Magicians, shooting a 155.

Lacking a senior voice, that leadership role will fall on the more experienced mix of juniors and sophomores. The Magicians list seven juniors and eight sophomores on the roster. Juniors Easton Bradley, Nathan Peterson and Connor Ressler, as well as sophomore Parker Argent played key roles last year and again will be looked upon to shoulder the load for the Magicians this season.

Argent has become accustomed to handling some of the leadership roles despite being an underclassman, as he hasn’t had the opportunity to play alongside many seniors during his time with the Magicians.

“We’re actually pretty used to it,” Argent said. “We haven’t had many senior guys or any upperclassmen because me and Easton have been kind of the guys since our seventh and eighth grade years. We’re pretty used to it, to be honest.”

Argent was both an all-state and all-WDA selection as a freshman, leading his team in scoring in five tournaments. He averaged a team-best 77.5 per round.

“I expect him to be a leader from the get-go,” DeLorme said. “Obviously, he’s going to do it on the golf course. I look for him to be a leader at practice as well and showing the younger guys and the guys that have less experience what it takes to be successful at this level.”

Bradley finished in the top-four in team scoring in 10 of 11 tournaments, carding an average round of 79.2. Ressler came on strong toward the end of the season, factoring into the team score in four tournaments, including the final three. He placed eighth at WDA with a 76. Peterson twice led the Magicians in scoring, shooting a 76 at the Minot High Invite and a 75 at the Mandan Invite.

“The overall experience we bring back is our strength,” DeLorme said. “We bring back guys that have played varsity now for two or three years. They’ve seen a lot throughout their rounds. They know how to battle through that adversity with the different things they’re going to see and fight through the different weather conditions and battle through a bad ball-striking day.”

Minot High’s roster will feature one new name, but one that brings plenty of experience and has been part of a winning program. Sophomore Tripp Toepfer transferred over to Minot High by way of Bismarck Century after his dad took a job in town. Toepfer was an all-WDA pick last year as the Patriots won their fourth consecutive WDA Tournament title. He played alongside Class A and WDA individual champion Parker Beck.

“I got to play with a lot of the older kids, so I definitely learned a lot from them,” Toepfer said. “I’ve just learned how to become a good scorer.”

Toepfer factored into Century’s team total in all but one tournament last season as a freshman. He averaged a 77.9, with his best round coming at the Jamestown Invite, where he shot a 74. The former Patriot spent part of the offseason playing golf in California, taking part in the Nipomo Amateur Classic.

Toepfer expects his new team to have plenty of success this season, just like what he grew accustomed to with Century.

“I think this team will be really good this season,” Toepfer said. “The players looked good last year, but I feel like we have a lot of depth with this team and I think we’ll be able to make a good run this year.”

The Magicians didn’t win a tournament title or an individual tournament title last year, something they are looking to change this season. Minot North (7), Century (3) and Mandan (1) were the only three West Region teams to claim tournament titles, and Minot North (5), Bismarck St. Mary’s (3) and Century (1) had individuals win medalist honors.

“We know our goals at the end of the year, but at the start of the year, the goal is to get some wins, get a feel for our team and see where things go toward the end of the year,” Argent said. “We know what teams have done in the past in this area, so we have the same expectations as they did.”

The Magicians finished seventh at state last year, continuing a title drought that stretches back more than two decades. They also no longer have the designation of being the last boys golf program from the Minot area to have won a state title. But as DeLorme looks at his roster, he can’t help but feel optimistic.

“I walk through that Minot High gym and I look at 2003 being the last state title for Minot High and I think ‘Why not us? Why can’t we make a run at it and put a banner up there?'” DeLorme said.

The Magicians tee off at the Century/Legacy Invite on Saturday, April 11, at Tom O’Leary Golf Course to begin their season.