Golfers prepare to hit the course

The boys golf team has 13 players out for the sport this season, and all have hopes to be one of the top five players who will represent the Outlaws at tournaments.

Junior Steen Johnson and sophomores Kade Owen and Devin Robillard are the only returning varsity players. Coach Bill Mitchell told The Nugget that all three boys have been working extremely hard, and have improved their game since last year - especially the putting game.

"These guys will need to really work on their short game and strive to get their scores below 100," said Mitchell.

New to the team this year are senior Yasha Saldi; juniors Gabe Isle and Halston Seilentin; sophomores Ben Saba, Jace Kachlein, Noah Huber, Brendan Lewis and Sam Tara;.Freshmen Patrick Dingeman and Austin Lake will round out the squad.

"We need five players to play in a tournament, and right now we really only have three (Johnson, Owen, and Robillard) that are tournament-ready," said Mitchell. "We need two guys to step up and deliver, and right now it looks like that will be Austin (Lake) and Ben (Saba)."

The boys golf team will play at Tokatee on Wednesday, March 18, in their first tournament of the season.

On the girls' side, senior Emily Christen is back for her final year. Christen tallied her lowest score ever (104) last year at the district tournament.

"Emily is a good athlete and she wants to improve," said Mitchell. "She's very strong and can hit the ball a long way. She just needs to work on her short game and get her score under 100, and I think she can do it."

Ayanna Brewer (junior) is a transfer from Elmira and will join Christen on the girls team.

The girls' first tournament of the year will be at Crooked River Ranch on Wednesday, March 18.