ORLEANS — Sparked by a medalist performance by sophomore Lucas Politano, the Otter Valley Union High School boys’ golf team on Thursday, Oct. 13, claimed its second consecutive Division II state championship. The Otters’ 2021 title had been the program’s first in 38 years.

In play at the Orleans Country Club, OV edged second-place Hartford, 349-351, reversing the results from the week before, when the Hurricanes edged the Otters by three strokes in the qualifying tournament held at the Neshobe Golf Club in Brandon.

Following the top two teams in the field were: 3. Harwood, 358; 4. Stowe, 365; 5. Woodstock, 377; and 6. Peoples 385.

Politano shot a 77 on the par-72 Orleans Country Club course to edge Mill River’s Matthew Serafin by two strokes and Harwood’s Joseph Barwood by three for medalist honors. Barwood was the medalist at the qualifier the week before.

OV senior Thomas Politano tied for fourth with Harwood’s Parker Davey; both carded 84s.

Rounding out the scorers for Coach Greg Hughes’s Otters were senior Matt Bryant, with a 93, and freshman Jackson Howe, with a 95.

Howe was an unsung hero. He was the last Otter golfer on the course and had to shoot at least a 6 on the par-4 18th hole to clinch the crown for OV, and he came into the clubhouse with a 5.