After an incredibly successful 2023 season, the Wolves girls golf team is on the search for another state trophy.
The Wolves team graduated four seniors: Julia Karmazin, Emma Hartnett, Sharlan Skrupa, and Shea Meridith. This left only Chelsea Mahloch remaining on the varsity lineup. With big shoes to fill and only a summer to prepare, the Wolves got to work.
During the summer the Wolves held range sessions at Indian Creek Golf Course. During these sessions they worked on all aspects of their game.
Many of the players also compete in Nebraska Junior Golf tournaments. Here they face competition from all over the state and from different school classes.
“Playing in the summer helps us get into tournament play sooner, and helps us keep our skills,” sophomore Reese Gloystein said.
All their off season work showed during their first tournament of the season when they won against Elkhorn South, Skutt Catholic, and Millard South.
On August 27th, the wolves faced Millard North at Miracle Hills, with the duel ending in a tie. Gloystein shot a 44 and won the duel for the wolves.
At the Elkhorn South invite on September 3rd at Pacific Springs the Wolves placed 4th overall and Mahloch took 10th individually.
After a win against Lincoln Lutheran and a 4th place finish at the Gretna Invite, the Wolves were ready for the Lincoln Northstar Invite at Highlands Golf Course. When the wolves were in Lincoln, all members set personal records and placed first overall.
“We realized that we do have the potential to beat really good teams that are also going to state,” sophomore Avery Peter said.
Quickly after the Lincoln Northstar Invite, the Wolves secured another first place at the Blair Invite. Mahloch placed 6th, Caylee Mack placed 8th, and Gloystein placed 11th.
To kick off their postseason run, on October 2nd the wolves played in the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament at Holmes Golf Course. They finished second with Peter, Mahloch and Gloystein all finishing top seven and shooting 92 and under.
Each year the Wolves face Elkhorn South in the Fall Cup as a fun end to the season. This event marks the end of the JV season and transitions varsity into districts. This year the Wolves took the victory in a close battle.
“We were nervous, but knew that we had a good chance of qualifying for state,” Mack said.
Each district has about eight teams competing, the top three teams qualify for state and the top ten athletes qualify individually.
The wolves played in the B-2 district against Norris, Bennington, Geering, Nebraska City, Lincoln Northwest, Platte, and Crete. The wolves secured a state appearance after they placed first. Individually, Gloystein placed 2nd, Mahloch finished 5th, and Peter came in 7th.
After a long trip to Scottsbluff, the Wolves arrived at Monument Shadows Golf Club. On Saturday, October 12th, and Sunday, October 13th, the girls did two practice rounds to become familiar with the course.
“It taught us how to hit every hole, what clubs to use, and how to have success on the course,” Mack said.
State golf is a two day event where athletes play 18 holes per day. After day one, Gloystien was in first place with an 81, Mahloch was tied for seventh place with an 87, Peter was tied for eighth place with an 88, and Mack shot a 93.
Headed into day two, the Wolves were in first place as a team. With some outstanding finishes, Mahloch placed fourth shooting an 82, Gloystien was in seventh with a 92, Peter was in eleventh with a 92, and Mack finished seventeenth with a 90.
The Wolves took home the State Runner-Up trophy.
“As a team we were more successful than we ever thought we were going to be,” Peter said.
Congratulations to the wolves girls golf team on an amazing season!
