The 2021-22 sports season begins today with the start of fall sports, and once again, it will be girls golf kicking things off.
Teams were able to begin practice on Friday, and today, Columbus East and Columbus North will open their seasons at the Bloomington North Invitational. Here is a look at those and other area programs:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs have made it an annual rite of passage to qualify for the state tournament, and they hope this year is no different.
“That’s always our goal,” North coach Scott Seavers said. “We just have to have a few people step up and contribute.”
After having only six players last season, the Bull Dogs will have at least nine this year. With Harrison Lake Country Club under renovation, North will play some rounds at Timbergate and Greenbelt, while still using the practice facilities at Harrison Lake.
“We’ve been practicing this summer, and some of our girls have been playing summer tournaments,” Seavers said. “They’ve put in a good offseason.”
Nathaly Munnicha, who led the Bull Dogs the past four years, now is playing at Xavier. But three seniors return from a team that won conference and sectional titles and finished sixth at state.
Gwen Anderson was the Conference Indiana medalist and was North’s top scorer at the regional and on the second day of the state finals. Ella Wilks and Macy Euler also have been mainstays in the lineup the past two seasons.
“The way (Anderson) ended her season last year, and the work she put in this summer, she could be our No. 1,” Seavers said. “I expect all three of them to be leaders this year and score for me every time.”
Junior Ratisha Rashmil was the Bull Dogs’ No. 6 golfer last season. Another junior, Nettie Meeks, moved in after playing volleyball at Jennings County.
A quartet of freshmen — Reese Euler, Erin Hopkins, Lindsey Hartwell and Kara Buntin — will look to push for varsity spots.
“I like my freshman class,” Seavers said. “They’re eager and young and want to get better, and they’ll get better and better all year long. What we want is competition and improvement, and I think we’re going to get it.”
Columbus East
With everyone returning from last season’s team that finished eighth in the regional, the Olympians hope to contend for a spot in the state finals.
“We have some pretty lofty goals,” East coach Kylie Weichman said. “Every year, we want to be able to compete in our conference, and then we have a goal to advance as a team to state. Hopefully, we can pull everything together and have a good season and score well when we need to.”
Senior Harley Gant became the first Olympian to qualify for state last season, when she made it as an individual. Senior Peyton Meier, sophomore Carter Gant, junior Katie Hong, sophomore Lilly Steinwedel and senior Cristen Martinez also were varsity regulars last year.
“They’ve worked all offseason with their swing coaches and their lessons in the winter,” Weichman said. “We asked our top six to play in at least five tournaments, and as a team, we went and played our sectional course and our conference course. We’ve had a great summer where the girls practiced and played and worked with their swing coaches. They’ve definitely put in the time, and we hope that will pay off for us.”
Senior Savannah Wells, junior Avery Brooks and sophomore Ali Trueblood were JV players last season. They are joined by sophomore newcomer Rachel Kuhlman and freshmen Grace LaSell and Dyanna Foster.
“(LaSell) has a really good short game and could possibly toward the middle to the end of the season push for a spot,” Weichman said. “We’ve seen some good scores and are really excited for the start of the season.”
Jennings County
The Panthers had only five players last season, but all five return.
Junior Sophia Curry has qualified for regional as an individual the past two years.
“We’ll be counting on her experience to lead us this year,” Jennings coach Alejandro Galvan said.
Sophomore Alexis Carson also qualified for regional as an individual last season. Sophomores Lauren Galvan and Emma Kirchner and junior Emma Jones also are back.
“The team is still really young,” Alejandro Galvan said. “From what I see, everybody seems to have improved a little bit from last year. We’re going to have the goal of making it to regional as a team, hopefully.”
Brown County
The Eagles will be an experienced team with four returning seniors with varsity experience.
Senior Ainslie Winton was the No. 1 golfer last season. Seniors Annika Evenson and Abby Padgett also were varsity regulars, and senior Mattie Satter played in some varsity matches.
“We should be a little bit ahead of where we normally are starting the season,” Brown County coach Brad Baughman said. “We’re ready to compete.”
Sophomore Savannah Poling and Ava Padgett mainly were JV players last season. They are joined by junior newcomer Hannah deWeerdt and freshman Lilly VanNess.
“I hope we can finally get some scores in the 40s and support them with scores in the 50s rather than having a couple scores in the 50s and supporting them with scores in the 60s,” Baughman said. “The whole idea is to get better and trying to play your best at the end of the season.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers lost their top three golfers from a team that finished second in the Mid-Hoosier Conference.
Junior Jillian Turner and sophomore Izzy Richardson were the Nos. 4 and 5 golfers. They could be pushed by freshman Macie Blandford.
Edinburgh also has four junior newcomers in Gracie Myers, Chloee Britton, Hannah Pile and Cierra Myers.
“I can tell Izzy has played and Macie, but the other girls are new,” Edinburgh coach Doug Weddle said. “They’ll get better as the year goes on. I’d like to see us just each match continue to improve and have a shot at the conference when it comes around.”
