Young Harris College Athletics

John Lichtenwalner enters his third season as director of men's and women's golf, with the 2025 slate ahead.

The 2024-2025 campaigns for both the men's and women's golf programs were led by Lichtenwalner. On the men's side, senior Will Ranieri and freshman Adrian Ronn were named to the Conference Carolinas All-Conference team. The second-year director helped develop a young women's team, who finished seventh at the Conference Carolinas championships. Five athletes (Abbie Arthur, Lucy Wiegert, Connor Johnson, Tamara Brito and Abby Adams) earned WGCA All-American Scholar honors. 

In John's first year directing the programs, there were some notable accolades. In the Battle at Barnsley, John McCracken led the Mountain Lions to an impressive 4th place finish. At the Music City Invitational, Ruben Linstrom shot a five under for the two round tournament, putting YHC at a tie for 7th (he was then named Conference Carolinas Men's Golfer of the Week). On the women's side, Connor Johsnon was named Conference Carolinas Women's Golfer of the Week in April of 2024 after a stellar performance at the Cherokee Valley Spring Bash. Lucy Wiegert and Connor Johnson each earned All-Conference honors at the end of the spring. 

John comes to Young Harris having spent the past two and a half years playing professional golf across the Southeast, competing on the Florida Professional Golf Tour, Rolling Red Golf Tour, Moonlight Tour, and many others. He also spent 2021-2023 caddying at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, FL, one of the nation’s top destination golf resorts.
 
John is a graduate of Young Harris and played on the golf team from 2017-21. Over John’s four years at Young Harris, the golf team won seven tournaments, including the 2021 Peach Belt Conference Championship. John’s career low collegiate round was 68 (twice) and his top finish T-10 (twice). John was also a strong performer in the classroom, and he received the PBC Elite 15 Award in 2020 and the Luke Rushton ’42 Scholar Athlete Award in 2021.
 
Originally from Cumming, GA, John is a graduate of South Forsyth High School, where he made the All-County golf team in 2015.

updated 07.22.25