Leadership, experience and chemistry are three main components of any great team. Many teams spend all season trying to build these traits, but for the Yutan golf team, their large group of upperclassmen already offer all these qualities and more.
“The biggest difference we have from past teams is that we have so many returners with varsity experience and many have seen success in those different events,” head coach Taylor Teeter said. “I’d love to continue the upward trend of success that we’ve had as a program, which at this point would be adding some more hardware to the trophy cases and a banner in the gym.”
Hoping to build on the team’s third place finish in last year’s state competition, the team has the upper hand of returning four out of their five state qualifiers. This gives the team a competitive advantage over their opponents as well as a higher level of experience.
“We have a lot of experience and a lot of practice, so most of us really just know what we’re doing out there to put up some good scores,” returning senior Jack Edwards said.
Connor North, another returning senior, agreed with Edwards adding, “The chemistry we have as a team is going to be super high this year, and all the experience we have in tournaments is going to help a lot.”
With the amount of experience and team chemistry, the players and coaches not only believe it’ll help them when competing at meets but also in practices.
“Right now we have eight or nine kids that can compete at the varsity level, so it pushes [them] to continue to improve,” Teeter said. “Having so many upperclassmen with experience also allows the younger kids time to develop and improve.”
In previous years, the team had a hard time filling an entire varsity roster. Although this gave the younger players in-meet experience, Teeter explained, it typically also dropped the team’s overall score.
“It is pretty common for Class C teams to throw their younger golfers into meets (to fill a line-up), but because we have so many upperclassmen, we don’t have to put kids in this position,” Teeter said. “Instead, they’re able to see what they need to be doing to improve and understand what the expectations are for them to be successful.”
Having the team’s focus being on themselves allows for a “less stressful and more fun environment” North explained. It also lets the players’ attention to pivot towards accomplishing their personal goals.
“My personal goals this season are to not shoot over a 79, win four tournaments and win the state championships,” senior returner Creek Kennedy said.
Like Kennedy, many of his teammates share the same aspirations. This had led them to practice doing what Teeter calls the “little things right” in order to reach their full potential and make a statement by the end of the year.
“I think there’s two sets of goals within the team, with the common theme of reaching the next level,” Teeter said. “The more experienced guys are looking for their 4th consecutive conference title as a team, being district champions and bringing home some hardware from the state tournament, where some of the less experienced guys are working to improve their game so that they are ready to compete at a high level when they have their opportunity.”
And so, whether it be the team goal of getting another trophy in the case or their own goal of getting to that next level, the Yutan golf team can’t wait to make their final moments together on the green.
“I love Yutan golf not only because I get to golf competitively but also because of the brotherhood,” Kennedy said. “The bonds and memories we have made will last forever.”
