Rising Above

The Lady Pirates Golf Team has had a tough season with lots of challenges but it has given them an opportunity to improve for next fall season. Because they lost three senior players as well as a sophomore from last season, Madison Lake, a senior golfer said, “I didn’t know if we were going to have a team.” 

This meant the team had to come together and rethink their game plan. Fortunately, they welcomed two freshmen to the team, bringing new energy and excitement to practice and matches. There were additionally three sophomores who returned and stepped up to help improve the team’s performance. 

With only six active players, the team had grit in all their matches. Each tournament taught them valuable lessons that helped sharpen their skills and build mental toughness throughout the season. Competing has also gave them the chance to develop better strategies together. 

Even though they didn’t get the place they wanted in the Western A Divisional tournament, finishing fifth overall, they had two individual golfers, Olivia Cottet and Johanna Bieber, qualify for the state championship. Coach Cameron Milton noted, “We barely missed out on the girls’ side. Milton added, “Lake has been very valuable this season, bringing two years of experience and a great attitude that inspires everyone around her.”

When dealing with mental challenges, Lake said, “You can’t drag yourself down all the time, so what I do is stay focused on the next shot.” Lake encourages the younger golfers to stay focused and keep pushing.