WCHS senior Tim Rata has chosen to continue his academic and golf career at Grace College. Seated with Rata are father Tiberius Rata and Grace College athletic director Chad Briscoe, In the back row are WCHS athletic director Dave Anson, former WCHS boys golf coach Ben Barkey, and current WCHS boys golf coach Rich Haddad. (Photo provided)

WARSAW – Warsaw Community High School senior golfer Tim Rata made his collegiate choice official Tuesday with his signing a letter of intent to attend Grace College and golf for the Lancer program.

While Rata has had some impressive long drives on the course, the short dogleg from his driveway to the school and a welcomed familiarity to the Stonehenge Golf Club course, where both Warsaw and Grace host its matches.

Rata, who captured All-Northern Lakes Conference honors as a junior, was named the team’s Most Improved Player. Rata has competed for the Tigers for three seasons under former coach Ben Barkey, and he enters his senior year with new coach Rich Haddad at the Warsaw helm.

The senior has clearly read more than greens for three years, as he has compiled an impressive 11.64 weighted GPA on a 12-point scale while enrolled in a number of honors and dual credit courses. Rata’s efforts in the classroom and his drive for service is evident through his membership with National Honor Society, Right for Life Club, Youth Group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (four years), and a number of school service groups.

Intending to major in Health Sciences with a minor in Spanish, Rata will compete for the Lancers and coach Denny Hepler. Grace, a member of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association, is also a member of the NAIA and the Crossroads League.