Clay Asplundh
Staff Writer
A successful 2015 golf season for the Lions ultimately ended in a second place finish in states, but the young team is hungry for more success next year.
After many seniors that were leading the team left for college in 2014 following a state championship win, the team was left with young players who needed to pick up the slack. With no seniors this year, the young team won the district title, advanced through sub-regionals, and had a strong performance in states that left Coach Demby pleased with his team. What was originally considered a rebuilding year quickly turned into one of the most successful seasons in team history.
Returning veterans such as Clay Asplundh, Ben Wiseman, Nathan Hiriak and Nina Kouchie all led the charge, while younger, newer players to the team like Bobby Wanamaker, Pat Lovell and Sam Strand all had clutch moments when the veterans struggled.
The team always was rooting for each other and loved playing together. Ben Wiseman, a Sophomore for the Lions, explained how strong the bond of the team has become: “Being a younger team, we all know each other really well so it was great playing with each other because we all love playing with each other.”
The team also bonded on the long bus rides in the postseason along with the Five Guys or Chick-fil-A stops that Coach Demby has become known for. While this past season was great for the team, they want more for the 2016 season.
Pat Lovell, a sophomore, explained the golf team’s hunger for a state championship for the upcoming season, “After the team winning states my freshman year we had a lot to live up to this season, and while we did great this season, it would be nice to get another championship.”
Coach Demby believes that the team is certainly capable of doing so, and with the confidence found after back to back great seasons, the sky's the limit for the growing team.
