Girls golf Tribe starts anew in ‘05

After back to back state qualifying seasons, the Waukon girls golf squad will have to start nearly from scratch in 2005. Only one letterwinner returns from last spring’s team that placed eighth at the state meet, but that’s not stopping the Tribe from having a positive outlook for the year.

“We’re indeed going to have a fresh start,” remarked coach Kathy McMillan. “But I feel good after watching them in practice. There’s potential, but we will have to work hard.”

Starting over requires the Indians to fill the holes left by five graduated seniors, Stephanie Haberichter, Heidi Hesse, Kristy Krambeer, Bailey Meyer, and Liz Weighner, who all had state meet experience.

Senior Leah Schellhammer is the lone letterwinner for the Tribe this spring. She averaged under 50 strokes on a 9-hole course for Waukon and will provide leadership for the lady linksters.

McMillan points to senior Jodi Sweeney and juniors Cassie Tysland and Christie Dundee as likely candidates for the varsity squad. The trio all earned junior varsity letters in the previous campaign. The coach also mentioned that other golfers will vie for the open varsity spots, listing the sophomore class as one filled with potential, but it’s still quite early in the season.

McMillan noted that junior Sarah Joachim was also going to be looked to for contributions to this year’s team, but instead will be sidelined with a knee injury suffered during the recently completed basketball season.

During the early practices, McMillan has been stressing basics for several athletes. “I have five beginners so we’re working a lot on the skills and knowledge of the game,” she noted.

Also high on the Tribe’s priority list is improving their short game. “We want to stress our short game and putting,” the coach added. “But we also want to stress course management.”

McMillan pointed out that the team is benefitting from new equipment. “We have some new workout equipment that’s helping not only the younger players, but everybody. I think we’ll get good payback from it.”

Still early in the season, the Indians have only had limited practice inside the high school gym. “The girls have been working hard indoors, but we really won’t know how things are going until we’re out golfing a course,” McMillan mentioned. “It doesn’t look hopeful that we’ll be on the course any time soon.”

Despite having to piece together a new roster, the Indians have set their sights on getting a sixth straight Northeast Iowa Conference crown. “Winning conference again is basically our number one mission,” the coach noted.

She predicts the Indians and Waverly-Shell Rock as likely competitors for the top spot in the league.

“I’d say right now that Waverly-Shell Rock is probably the top contender for conference along with us, but we’ll have to wait and see,” said McMillan.

The Indians will hit the course Tuesday, April 5, traveling to Luana to face MFL-MarMac/Postville at 4 p.m.