Coming off of their first game with a big win over Miss Porter’s School, the girls varsity golf team is looking forward to a successful season. Led by Head Coach Nicole Baratz, Co-captains junior Alexa Wolf and senior Illianna Brett, the team has kicked off their season and are off to a strong start.
Coach Baratz noted how much the team has grown in such a short period of time. “I’m just looking forward to seeing how the girls’ confidence grows throughout the season and how much they’ve grown since last season,” she said. “It’s really exciting that we officially have a girls varsity team this year.” The team is ultimately working towards the New England tournament, where they will play 18 holes against 13 other New England schools.
One standout player is Brett, who has had a strong start to the season. “She’s been a consistent player,” Coach Baratz said. “She’s strong, she’s a great leader, and has grown the program with us for the past three years.” Brett has competed strongly at the first game this season, and is expected to continue leading the team well.
In addition, Coach Baratz mentioned two Middle School players who made the varsity team, seventh-grader Callahan Greig and eighth-grader Noa Taback. Both of these girls have performed well at the start of the season.
The team’s recent win against Miss Porter’s School was a result of the hard work the girls have put in since their first practice in February. Greig, in particular, helped lead the team by stepping up from KO’s number five to number three player.
Every day in practice, the team works on various aspects of the game, including chipping, putting, and force management. Many of the courses they practice and compete at are challenging, and the girls work on their skills to be better prepared to overcome that expected difficulty.
“They really do well supporting each other,” Coach Baratz said. “They hold themselves to a high standard, are always willing to play with any player on the team, and encourage each other.” In reflecting on the course of the season thus far, she believes that the nature of the team is supportive, attributing their early-season success to the girls’ positive and encouraging mindset.
Moving forward, Coach Baratz says the team looks to improve their playing by practicing specific skills. “We have to keep working on building up our confidence in making good decisions,” she said. She noted that the team has been trying to master putting and chipping. “We’re taking our time to try and control what we can control,” Coach Baratz said.
Overall, the girls golf team has had a fantastic start to the season, with a current record of 2-0, and we look forward to their continued growth!
