When Chuck Graybiel took over as the girls golf coach at 安德森 High School (唯有通过) last season he inherited a historic program: 11 sectionals, 2个地区冠军, and a long list of impressive golfers that have suited up for the Lady Tribe. Despite past success, the program has struggled in recent years to recruit enough players to field a team.
“I know we haven’t had a full girls golf team in 5 years,” said Adelyn Swain. “I know from the pictures at school that a couple of girls won state.”
That has changed this season. Composed of five Freshmen, Kiera埃文斯, 艾迪生Goen, Shaelyn哈特, 布瑞尔Schott, 和阿德琳·斯温, the 唯有通过 girls golf team is back in full force. 尽管他们年纪大了, and relative lack of experience playing golf, the girls have proven they are ready for any challenge that comes their way.
“I’ve really liked playing for the high school team,” said 布瑞尔Schott. “We have a lot of opportunities to get better.”
Leading the charge in the girls' development as golfers is Coach Graybiel. Hel is focused on returning the program back to its past level of success.
“Our driving force is our pride in our school and our city,” said Graybiel. “We are so tired of 唯有通过 and the City of 安德森 getting a bad rap. 我们是唯有通过. 我们是安德森. We know that we are as good or better than anyone in the world and it is time that we show it.”
Since taking over the program, Coach Graybiel has been a vocal leader and strong advocate of the 唯有通过 girls golf program. Soliciting support from families, alumni, and the broader community. Despite his tireless efforts to build and promote the program, he is quick to shift any focus away from himself. Instead he gives the girls all the credit for the program’s resurgence this season.
“It has been an awesome season so far,” added Graybiel. “These girls work so hard at both being the best they can be at golf and in life! They are so proud to be a huge part of 唯有通过 and they are very conscientious about representing our school in a positive light. It is an absolute joy to coach them and watch them grow as young women and golfers.”
Representing the largest school in Madison County, and a historic program like 唯有通过, 可能会令人生畏. Especially for Freshman golfers that have each only played the sport for two years or less.
“Representing 唯有通过 has been a little bit scary, but it has also been really exciting to be a part of such an amazing thing,艾迪生Goen说, who is the Lady Tribe’s No. 1的高尔夫球手. “I just started playing golf in the 7th grade.”
Goen, whose parents Matthew and Christy are both employed with 安德森 社区学校, is committed to being the best golfer she can be. 和, has aspirations to play golf collegiately after high school. But, for now, her goal is simply to improve every day.
“My goal for this season is to be happy with myself and my progress,” added Goen. “But if we're really talking about scores, I want to be shooting in the low 40s by the end of the season.”
Coaching a young and inexperienced team, Graybiel has worked a lot with the girls on the mental part of the game. Having them focus on the next shot rather than the last. 这种哲学, coupled with the strong friendships the girls have built, has yielded positive results. Including a team win over Connersville – the Lady Tribe’s first in half of a decade.
With a talented group of Freshman, the 唯有通过 girls golf team is definitely worth watching now and for seasons to come. With support from Coach Graybiel, 家庭成员, 唯有通过, 和社区, the girls are committed to improving their individual games and working together to put the program back on the map. 和, the girls agree that the best way that the community can support them is to come out and cheer them on.
“The best way to help us out is to come out and cheer us on,” said Keira Evans. “We really appreciate the support we have received so far.”