Armed with a new golf coach and an official assistant coach, Marian’s golf team was ready to take off on the first day of tryouts on Aug. 10. Assistant coach Ms. Connie Cavel was a literature teacher up until her retirement last year, and she was warmly welcomed into the golf team family. Cavel was a golf coach from 1984-1994, so her knowledge and experience is up to par.

New head coach Robert Davis has been leading the team this season. Davis held a few clinics over the summer to help get the golfers ready to hit the course running when the 2015 season started. Several golf team veterans noticed the significant rise

in attendees, but they never imagined to have a competition team of 19 girls along with a development team of 11 players. The development team works on weekends to improve their golf game without being in a competitive environment.

The biggest golf team Marian has seen in the past three years was 11 players. Up until this year, 13 girls would have been an oversized golf team. This year, the team has 13 freshman golfers alone, dramatically beating out last year’s freshman population of one!

“I like the big team because we can see a future for the Marian golf team. The only negative is that there are so many names to remember!” junior Grace McMinn said.

The team started off strong
this year, winning their second tournament by seven strokes. Freshman Jalea Culliver shot an 83 on a par 70 course at her first high school meet, helping ensure the Crusaders’ victory. Every player placed in the Top 10! The golf team isn’t all work; the girls have fun at practices by doing drills and playing games.

“The most fun I have had at practice was when we replicated a
golf trick where we got in a line and we each putted at the same time. The point is that it was really synchronized and we all made our putt so it was really cool. We even got it on video!” junior Isabelle Swanson said. To see this video, visit the online Network!

The team has been successful so far, winning two of their first three tournaments, and having at least one member of the team place in every tournament.

“I think the most important thing Marian could do for the golf team is to keep us in your thoughts during the day of a tournament. Also, nice comments in the halls are always appreciated! This is especially true with districts and state coming up in the next two weeks!” Culliver said.