Sarah Booth

The players of the girls’ golf team are confident that they will win districts and reach state this season. Senior Emily Goldenstein did this last year, although no other Parkway West golfers followed her to state. “Last year, there wasn’t very much experience – we will do better this year; we still have everyone back,” Goldenstein said.

This year, Parkway West’s Girls Golf team is determined to go to state.

Such confidence comes after the team’s performance at the MSHSSA districts last year, when then-junior Emily Goldenstein secured the first victory in 32 years with a score of one under par. She later advanced to sectionals for individual competition and placed third at state, and now hopes that her team will accomplish their goal.

“I think that if everyone stays healthy and keeps practicing hard, we have a good chance of getting to state,” Goldenstein said.

Most of the team will be returning with another year’s experience in golf, and social studies teacher Mrs. Sachtleben will coach them for her fifth season. They are excited at the potential they have this year, and consider getting multiple players to state a distinct possibility.

“I expect the team to do very well…our goal is to get as many players [to state] as we can – even an entire team,” Sachtleben said.

She is impressed with the results of the previous season, and believes in the ability of the girls’ golf team to perform even better this year than they did last.

“We should place high if not win Conference and District…last year we won Districts for the first time since 1980, and are excited about the season,” Sachtleben said.

Girls golf has indeed re-established an impressive track record, but the potential for victory is not the only force driving the team with such enthusiasm; the team’s camaraderie is a driving factor in the attitude and performance of the players.

“We are really diverse in terms of our background and hobbies. They [the team] are all like my best friends,” sophomore Rebecca Su said.

Whether the team will reach state or not has yet to be seen, but the returning players are determined to perform well this season.