While graduating no one, competition has shaken up the order of things on the Marysville girls golf team.
Coach Jaci Legore Hodgins hasnt had much of a chance yet to evaluate the play of the teams only returning senior, Tierany Winston, but the Tomahawks must have paid their dues in the offseason the girl slotted for this seasons number-one golfer wasnt even on the varsity roster last season.
That girl would be junior Lynee Brown, who golfed JV last season. The roster sports two other names new to Tomahawk golf, Courtney Green, who came out for the first time as a sophomore, and freshman Abby Beauchamp.
Legore Hodgins credited the competitiveness of the teams younger players for creating a strong team dynamic by earning the respect of the teams more veteran members.
Theyre athletic enough that theyre competing with the older ones, she said, adding that the competition brings the whole team up. You have to make sure every day you have a higher quality practice.
In addition to Winston, the team returns three more girls who golfed varsity last year. With the fierce competition for a chance to play varsity, Legore Hodgins is continually asking her golfers to keep score throughout their practices. They also count their putts, her way of emphasizing the significance of a strong short game.
Junior Sarah Rott, who improved her game in the offseason with golfing lessons, is currently looking like the teams second golfer. Sophomore Stacia Ashley, who came out of nowhere last season with big games as a freshman, is also back with some lessons under her belt. Taylor Ashton, another junior, is currently projected by Legore Hodgins as the teams sixth golfer.
Golfers rankings are used to match a girl with opponents from rival schools. While some schools set their rankings at the beginning of the season, last year Legore Hodgins kept her rankings fluid as a way to motivate her golfers to compete with each other and improve throughout the season.
Everyone is highly motivated and extremely excited, she said. Everybody who was here last year is a year older and a year wiser, and it shows athletic-wise and personally.