SLIPPERY ROCK — When Bob Paczkowski was a freshman, he tried out for the Slippery Rock High golf team.

It didn't go so well.

“I shot a 122,” Paczkowski said.

Four years later, the senior's golf game has improved significantly.

And, he's part of a dynasty.

Paczkowski shot an 81 this year on the first day of tryouts and become one of the reasons why the Rockets clinched their fourth consecutive Region 2 championship with a megamatch win at Grove City Country Club on a soggy Monday afternoon.

It wasn't Paczkowski's best day on the course in the final megamatch of the season, but he and his teammates were good enough.

For four years, they have been good enough.

“All I keep telling people is in the first 23 years I coached, we had one championship,” said Slippery Rock golf coach Merle Whitmer. “And in the last four ... (we have) four in four years. There's not too many people who can say they've won four championships in four years.”

The four-peat seemed in jeopardy before the season even started.

Senior Brett Rinker felt pain in his hip that spread to his lower back this August.

During one event on a summer tour, he took a swing, felt a pop in his back and knew he was in trouble.

“All of a sudden, I couldn't bend down to mark my golf ball,” Rinker said.

Luckily, the injury wasn't severe and two weeks later — just in time for the high school golf season to tee off — Rinker was back to his dominating self on the course.

Rinker has been a machine during all four championships seasons.

This year, he averaged a 72.5 in the six megamatches, easily beating the No. 2 golfer in the region, Billy Colbert of Hickory, by five strokes for the Player of the Year award.

“He's the model,” Whitmer said. “What I'm trying to get across to these guys now is to watch (Rinker) on the range. He never overswings. He's the guy who is hitting pitching wedges and sand wedges on the range when everyone else is hitting drives.

“He has a routine and you can see it in everything he does.”

But Rinker isn't the only show in town. The other golfers on the Rockets' roster have contributed to the four-year dominance.

Three of the nine players from Region 2 who advanced to the District 10 Individual Tournament at Oak Tree Country Club in West Middlesex are from Slippery Rock.

Rinker, Paczkowski and Alec Nebel will tee off at the event Oct. 11.

“It means a lot just to think about all the other schools and all the other golfers (who are in this region),” Nebel said. “It feels like, ‘Wow. What I'm doing is working out for me.'”

Nebel fired a 79 in difficult conditions in the final megamatch. The score was his lowest in the six megamatches this season.

To him, winning the region title for the fourth straight year is more about friendship.

“All these guys are my best friends,” Nebel said. “That's why it means a lot. How many schools can say that?”

“These kids are like my brothers,” Paczkowski added. “They are more than just my golf teammates. It's just amazing to think about what we've done, being the close friends that we are.”

WE HAVE LIFT OFF

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The Slippery Rock High golf team has won the Region 2 title for the fourth consecutive season. Following is the scoring average for each player on the Rockets who participated in all six megamatches this season.

Name Avg.Brett Rinker 72.5Alec Nebel 84Bob Paczkowski 85.2Dalton Lawniczak 88.4Alex Sparn 88.5Matt Badger 89.7