By Becky Walz,
The search is on for varsity spots on the Turkey Valley girls’ golf team.
With two letter winners back from a year ago, the Trojans will be looking for four new members to step up and fill holes on the roster.
Looking to guide the team to a winning season is head coach John Reicks, who has been in charge of the program for 11 years.
The search is on for varsity spots on the Turkey Valley girls’ golf team.
With two letter winners back from a year ago, the Trojans will be looking for four new members to step up and fill holes on the roster.
Looking to guide the team to a winning season is head coach John Reicks, who has been in charge of the program for 11 years.
Small by mighty
There were just seven members of the team last season, led by the four letter winners of Ali Hoffert, Kylie Wurzer, Emma Hanson and Raegan Kime.
The Trojans consistently improved with each meet last season, culminating in winning the Upper Iowa Conference title with a final tally of 457. Hoffert carded a 107 to finish third, while Wurzer fashioned a 110 to finish fourth. Junior Tess Franzen recovered from a 15 on hole No. 2, to finish seventh with a 114, with Kime finished the day in 15th with a 126. Hanson fired a 130, good for 21st. Also competing was Mariah Throndson (140, 31st).
The season ended for the team at the reginal as the Trojans came up one spot short of advancing. They finished third overall with 445, one point behind Central Springs. Hoffert was the overall meet medalist with a 93 and garnered a regional final individual berth. Other scores at regionals included Franzen (111), Wurzer (116), Hanson (125), Kime (136) and Throndson (138). Hoffert went on to finish 24th at the regional final with a 109.
Names to replace
Hoffert has provided the biggest shoes to fill. She led the team last year by averaging 55.43 strokes per nine holes. Kime was second on the team with a 57.75 average, while Hanson was fourth with 62.57. Wurzer concluded the season with a 63.00 average.
The team of 2022 does have two returning athletes who gained valuable experience a season ago.
“We are also low on numbers, but Tess (Franzen) and Mariah (Throndson) will provide a solid 1-2 punch on the top of our scorecard. Bella (Gruenberg) and Megan (Blong) showed excellent promise last year and junior newcomers Alison Leibold and Abby Schmitt are pleasant additions to our roster,” said Coach Reicks.
Franzen was third on the team with a 61.00 per game average. At the No. 6 spot was Throndson who average 70.88 strokes.
Also vying for a varsity spot are freshmen Kaitlyn Schroeder, Sofia Rivera, Morgan Vsetecka and Ellie Reicks.
The conference race
Come this May, Coach Reicks believes Central Elkader will be a contender for the Upper Iowa Conference title, along with North Fayette Valley, Clayton Ridge and South Winn.
“We will be very young this season and inexperienced,” noted Coach Reicks. How we perform will ultimately depend on how fast our newcomers and promising freshmen progress.
Progress from day to day and week to week will be the ingredient the Trojans will need to develop their game.
“Mother Nature will dictate how soon outdoor practice will take place. Good course management and spending time with the rule book will help give us a boost as we look forward to opening our season on the road versus Tripoli,” concluded Coach Reicks.
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