WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. — Championship week has arrived for West Liberty golf. From Oct. 6-8, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship will take center stage, serving as the capstone event of the fall season. The three-day test unfolds in Daniels, West Virginia, at the Resort at Glade Springs — a destination known as much for its beauty as its difficulty.
Momentum has been building for the Hilltoppers. Last spring at the MEC Spring Classic, West Liberty battled into the top five behind Charleston, Davis & Elkins, Fairmont State and Glenville State. That showing offered a glimpse of the team’s potential, now ready to be measured on the biggest stage of the fall.
Brogan Bennett, who graduated after the 2024-25 season, capped his Hilltopper career by earning All-MEC first-team honors. He also placed highest on the leaderboard for West Liberty at the spring championship with a tournament total of +14. His consistency left a lasting mark on the program, and his departure opens the door for new leaders to step forward.
At Glade Springs, the format is 54 holes of stroke play. The top six teams advance to the third round, and the top three individuals not on an advancing team also qualify. For the men, the course is a par 72, playing at 7,151 yards from the black tees.
The women will follow the same course format and tournament rules. They will play from 6,001 yards and tee off from the white tees. For both squads, every hole carries weight — with steady play across three days often separating contenders from the field.
Both teams will be tested on the Cobb Course, designed by architect George Cobb in 1972. Golf Digest has ranked it among the top five in West Virginia, while Golf Magazine named it the state’s No. 1 layout in 2007.
Playing the Cobb Course is a privilege, but it will not come without challenges. The layout features 51 sand bunkers, more than 200 feet of elevation change, tricky sun angles and eight lakes. It’s the type of course where experience, patience and adaptability matter just as much as raw power.
Along with the Cobb Course, Glade Springs is home to two additional 18-hole courses: Stonehaven and Woodhaven.
Noah Seivertson, head coach of the men’s team, brings valuable tournament experience from his own playing career. His perspective helps prepare athletes both physically and mentally for the demands of postseason play.
On the women’s side, Freddie Fitzsimmons, a 2020 West Liberty graduate, returns to guide the program he once represented as a four-year player. Fitzsimmons competed in consecutive MEC Championships in 2018 and 2019, developing a reputation for his work ethic and team-first mindset. That perspective now fuels his coaching approach, as he looks to blend lessons from his playing days with the development of a new generation of Hilltoppers.
With experienced coaches, proven players and one of the most challenging courses in the region as the stage, West Liberty enters the MEC Championship with a chance to showcase growth, resilience and the continued rise of the program.
