Sports
Visitation Golfers Aim For Another Top State Finish
With nearly everyone back this season from the team that placed seventh in last year's Class AA state meet, the Blazers head into the season with high expectations.
With all but one of its top golfers returning from last year’s seventh place Class AA finishing team, this should be a good year for the Visitation girls golf team.
Visitation is missing Breanna Herzog, who placed 59th in the 2010 state meet, and Erin Plunkett, who finished 80th. Everyone else returns for the Blazers.
“I’m expecting that we’ll be right back in at the state tournament again,” said head coach Connie Parsley. “I’m hoping we’ll get in the top four.”
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Headlining the returners are senior team captain Peggy Jackson and junior Claire Nitschke, who were 64th and 65th, respectively, in the state tournament last spring. Also back are juniors Rachel Floeder (83rd in the state meet) and Kelly McQuillan (87th).
“Out of the six that played (at state last season), four of them had never been there before,” said Parsley. “So I think the excitement of it and the awesomeness of having that many people watching you—when in the regular season we don’t have anybody watching—it was quite a change for them.
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“So I’m hoping now that they’ve been exposed to it and the course they can handle it better and are a little more confident in their ability,” Parsley continued.
Sophomores Sara Ryan and Katie Plunkett is anticipated to join the state veterans to make up this year’s top-six varsity team.
“The strength is they all get along really well,” said Parsley. “And we have a good time practicing, but we work really hard. And they like to practice. The weakness would probably be that they’re hesitant to believe that they’re as good as they really are.”
With so many experienced golfers returning, Parsley decided to strengthen this year’s schedule with four outside tournaments.
One of those outside tournaments is coming up quickly; Visitation will play in the Staples-Motley tournament April 16.
“So, hopefully we will get some good rounds in right away,” Parsley said.
*Editor's note: This story has been revised. A previous version omitted the name of one of Visitation golf's graduated 2010 seniors.