The annual high-school golf match between the neighborhood rival Madison Warhawks and Marshall Statesmen became more significant and fun, especially this fall.
In 2023, the all-Vienna showdown was named the Hawk & Griffin Cup, and this year the winning squad was awarded the trophy in the same name for the first time. Each match was held at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, the site of home matches for the two squads, which play in different districts.
The idea to name the match and have a trophy made for the winner was that of Madison coach Mike Serone. The rivalry between the teams is decades long, but since a district realignment in recent years, the teams had not been meeting annually.
Serone has 10 family members who attended Marshall (including his parents) and they often reminisce about the rivalry. Serone didn’t attend either high school, but thought having something a bit more at stake when the teams did meet would be worth exploring.
“There are a lot of Marshall bloodlines that run deep in my family,” Serone said.
The coach joked about being called a “traitor” by family members now that he coaches Madison.
Eventually, Serone and Marshall head golf coach John Windt agreed on the idea, as did Westwood pro Matt Gallagher. Owner of the Vienna Hawk & Griffin restaurant, Tom Kyllo, was approached about sponsoring a trophy.
Kyllo has strong links to both schools and quickly agreed. His children played sports at Madison, and Kyllo not long ago coached the Marshall High girls softball team to second in the 6D North Region tournament.
“I liked the idea and was all on board to do this,” Kyllo said.
Adding to the event is a Warhawk is the mascot for Madison and a griffin is the unofficial Marshall mascot.
The trophy was designed by Serone and made by Camper’s Trophies. It wasn’t ready until this season’s match, and was displayed in full sight on the first tee for all to see during this fall’s competition, won by Madison in a Ryder Cup style 18-hole match-play format. Madison won a year ago, as well.
Serone said the added trophy generated more excitement for the match. More family members, as well as Westwood members, followed the golfers on the course.
“This was bigger and better than I thought,” Serone said.
The trophy will be on display at Hawk & Griffin and Westwood during different times of the year.
Playing in this year’s match for Madison were Ashlyn Choi, Sohan Mehta, Thomas Brick, Finley Dowell, Carter Cunningham, Andrew Berk, Isaiah Esi, Liam Walsh, Colin Park, Ethan Wasserman, Ryan Moseley and Jack Cilman.
Marshall players were Veer Anand, Isabella Semitekol, Nolan Carney, Oliver Bisson, Christopher Higginson, Nicholas Valudes, Ian Redding, Jake Marsh, Jonah Maco, Ayden Oh, Owen McCarton and Jonas Donovan.
