Season Preview: 4A Girls Golf

Don't get Kyrstie Miller wrong.
 
There was plenty of satisfaction for both her and her Wamego girls golf team after posting a runner-up finish at last year's Class 4A state tournament at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course. The showing matched the best finish at a state tournament for the program, one that's in just its sixth year of existence.
 
But at the same time, there was a different feeling about last year's runner-up finish compared to the second-place finish the Red Raiders posted in 2019.
 
"There was definitely some different feels about it," Miller said. "That first year, we were in third after the first day and were pretty excited to be there. Then the second day, we went out and pulled out some great rounds and snuck into that second place and everyone was excited.
"Last year, being in first after the first day – going into the tournament the girls were very motivated and wanted it – we were pretty excited. To end up getting second, we were still happy and excited, but there was a little bit of disappointment, too."
 
Indeed, Wamego was in strong position to capture the program's first girls state golf championship. A strong day across the board for the Red Raiders produced a first-day total of 366 to give Wamego a four-shot lead over Winfield and eight-shot advantage over 2019 state champion Buhler.
 
But Wamego couldn't quite duplicate its efforts on Day 2, shooting 12 shots higher as a team. Winfield, meanwhile, improved by two shots – led by a big swing from senior Elly Bertholf (84 to 76) – the Vikings leap-frogged the Red Raiders to win the state title by six shots (738-744).
 
Needless to say, Miller has seen a heightened sense of hunger from her team throughout the offseason coming into the 2021 season.
 
"After our first runner-up finish, the girls were very motivated," Miller said. "When COVID hit, they were out playing every single week. Last year, coming up a few strokes short, these girls have worked even harder. They've been out playing as much as they can – junior golf in Manhattan, everywhere they can. They've put in a lot of time and I can tell it in our practices that they've been working hard.
 
"They're very hungry and excited to get going again."
 
It doesn't hurt that the bulk of last year's state squad is back to fuel that fire. Graduation claimed only one senior off last year's state squad, 17^th-place finisher Toree Hoobler.
 
While she will be missed, there is more than enough back to make Wamego the favorite in Class 4A this season.
Juniors Kirby McKee and Ashten Pierson spent the bulk of last season alternating as the Red Raiders' low score at tournaments, helping the team to six tournament titles on the season. Pierson finished runner-up at regionals, falling in a playoff to Concordia's Abby Donovan, and the two fittingly tied each other at the state tournament, tying for eighth with two-day totals of 181.
 
Both could very well find themselves in the hunt for the individual state championship this year with Fort Scott's Karlie Chipman the lone returning underclassman that finished higher than the Red Raider duo at state last year.
 
With the strong 1-2 punch to build upon, the key will be the development of their supporting cast. Senior Creighton Sanner tied for 30^th last year at state, while sophomore Sara Springer was 55^th a year ago at state as a freshman.
 
"That has helped tremendously, getting that experience under pressure," Miller said. "They've progressed a lot this summer. They've always had a great swing off the tee box and good iron play, but short game has been their biggest progression this summer and that improvement can help carry them a long way."
 
That duo will be pushed as well to keep their spots on varsity. Miller said she has 17 golfers out this season with 12 of them – three seniors, nine juniors – upperclassmen. Many on the roster also competed in state tournaments with Wamego's basketball and softball teams, the latter claiming the Class 4A state championship last spring.
 
"A lot of these girls do multiple sports and are under pressure all the time," Miller said. "Having that spotlight on them all the time will help. We're very deep and have a lot of potential. It definitely keeps them motivated in practice and they really push each other. And they're not afraid to step up and coach and help each other, too.
 
"Over the last couple of years, we've had some great senior classes and great underclassmen who have bought into that mindset of having to work hard every day, being leaders, working outside the season. And they're teaching the rest of these girls that you can't just show up the first day and expect to play in August. The culture has just changed a lot."
 
The competition for the state title will feature many of the usual contenders in 2021.
 
Defending champion Winfield lost first-team All-Stater Bertholf, who finished third individually last year, but returns senior Chaney Littell, who tied for 10^th, senior Dalin Bartel (T35th), junior Savanna Nickum (T30th) and senior Celine Mendoza.
 
Buhler, which has three state championships since 2011, will be led by the Cooper sisters – senior Callie and sophomore Marlie – but graduated top state finisher Lauren Specht (fifth) and two others off last year's fourth-place team.
 
Perennial contender Andale, third a year ago, has finished in the top three at state three of the past four seasons, taking second in 2017 and 2018. The Indians return only two members of last year's state squad led by junior Arabella Clevenger (T30th).
 
A wrinkle to the mix could be the addition of Colby to Class 4A this season depending on how classifications shake out in September. The Eagles finished runner-up as a team in Class 3-2-1A last year with a two-day total of 735 that would have won the 4A title.
 
Colby also boasts last year's 3-2-1A individual champion in sophomore Anna Starbuck and returns its top-four state finishers.
 
"I think we definitely have a target on our back," Miller said. "But these girls are motivated and hungry. They know there's something special brewing and there's a lot of potential here."