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As cold winds froze their fingers, and an icy mist coated their clubs, Marian golfers competed in the NSAA Girls Golf Championship on Oct. 10 and 11. The meet took place at the Norfolk Country Club in Norfolk, Nebraska, and the team placed fifth out of 12 teams. Individual medals included senior Grace McMinn in ninth place and sophomore Jalea Culliver in 18th place.

While conditions were tough, the golfers gave their all, and ended the season on a positive note. “I played how I knew I could,” McMinn said. “My regular season had a rough ending, but I kept working hard and it all paid off at State.”

“I had a really really good two days [at State]!” senior golfer Isabelle Swanson said. “Usually, hole six is the bane of my existence because I always hit the ball out of bounds to the right, but at State I kept the ball in bounds and scored my personal best. I just needed to believe in myself and enjoy the good shots; things went so much better when I did.”

Overall, Coach Robert Davis is pleased with how the team fared and competed throughout the whole season. “Grace McMinn and Jalea Culliver played some exceptional golf, and often beat all of the other schools’ top two golfers. Mary Neppl had a breakthrough season, ending the year by consistently shooting in the mid-90s, and Mia Soulliere gained valuable Varsity experience for next year, when she will be our only senior on the team.”

This season ended well for the golfers, and next season looks just as bright. Three of the five State team members will be returning for next season and carrying a great deal of experience from their time at State this year. “We have some amazing seniors on the team and it will be hard losing them next season,” Soulliere said. “However, we have some really hard workers on the team and I think that for myself and the sophomores on the team, State was a good opportunity to set goals for ourselves to work towards next season,” she said.