This year’s girls varsity golf team may not have loads of experience with only four returning players, but they make up for it with tons of enthusiasm and effort.
Leading the team will be seniors Clare Hubbard and Christi Schiffman.
‘They were second team all league last year,? said Coach Terry Kelley. ‘I think they’re both determined to be first team this year.?
Unfortunately, Hubbard sprained her ankle and can hardly walk on it right now.
‘We’ll have to start the season without her and that will be tough,? Kelley said. ‘We don’t expect to have her back for another week or two.?
Thankfully, Schiffman is still healthy and ready to hit the links.
‘She’s shown a lot of improvement skill wise,? the coach said. ‘She really wants to be good. She doesn’t miss a practice. She listens well and she really tries to make the fine adjustments which are not easy in golf.?
‘She’s mentally one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached in golf? Kelley noted.
Senior Kristin McIsaac is returning for another season of play. ‘She’s upped her game from what I’ve seen,? Kelley said. ‘She’s longer, stronger, more consistent and more dedicated than last year.?
Sophomore Anna Moses, who didn’t see a whole lot of playing time last year, will be heavily relied upon this season. ‘She’s physically very strong,? Kelley said. ‘She has one swing flaw that shortens her game. If we can get her to quit reverse pivoting, she’ll add 15-20 yards to every shot.?
Although they don’t have any playing experience to speak of, Kelley noted he has ‘three pretty strong freshmen.?
Taylor Holthouser has a ‘good fundamental swing and has already made some good adjustments.?
Anna Tomaka is ‘already hitting the ball the most consistently? of all the new players.
‘Precision is her motto,? Kelley said. ‘She wants to do everything precisely. And that’s fine because once she’s got it, then she can start to let out the shaft a little bit, swing a little harder.?
Laura McMullen brings a ‘pretty good swing and a real good attitude? to the course.
Rounding out the team are sophomores Jacqueline Mitchell, Hailey Paruszkiewicz and Stefanie Cook.
Besides being ‘very strong and very coordinated,? Mitchell is ‘bubbly.? ‘She makes the team atmosphere kind of fun and that always helps,? Kelley said.
‘Focus? is Paruszkiewicz’s middle name. ‘You can see it in her eyes that she’s listening and she gets it,? the coach said. ‘I expect she will come along well.?
A former track runner, Cook is ‘a good athlete, very strong,? but Kelley said she needs to slow down her swing.
Kelley noted that junior Tawnni Mistelski, a former softball player, is ‘picking up the game quickly.?
In the end, Kelley sees his team finishing third in the Flint Metro League this year.