By Rachel Haynes, Staff Writer
With spring sports underway, the Boys Golf team has started with a bang, and the wins are expected to continue.
After an exciting 20-0 season last year, the boys’ golf team is expected to perform well again. Last year, the team qualified for Division 1 and placed sixth out of roughly 400 schools, which was a very impressive feat. This year’s team has a lot to live up to, but both coaches take pride in their players and believe they can secure the title of league champions.
The current roster is young, consisting mostly of sophomores and freshmen. The team lost five seniors last year, four of whom went on to play in college. Head Coach Eric Chavez noted that while this year’s team is talented, it is very young. He expects that the team will make it far in the CIF playoffs again within a few years. However, he does believe his team will win the league title this season. Chavez stated that one of the main goals is to win the Ivy League championship. His other goal is to see individual improvement from every player, and he hopes to send several athletes to the CIF individual playoffs.
Assistant Coach Maurizio Dubuisson agrees with Chavez and believes the boys will win the league title. He stated that the standard remains the same and the goal is to win the league along with every tournament they enter. As the assistant coach, he is responsible for working with the Junior Varsity team to help them improve and prepare for the Varsity level. He teaches them course management, golfer’s etiquette, and how to conduct themselves on and off the course. He is also in charge of helping players develop their mental game. Dubuisson knows that golf is played both physically and mentally. In a sport like this, players must learn to control their emotions and stay calm under pressure.
Assistant Coach Dubuisson
So far, the team has played two scrimmages and won both. These were hard-fought matches that came down to only a few strokes. The first scrimmage against Roosevelt High School was won with a score of 210-222, securing a victory by 12 strokes. The second match against Linfield Christian was even closer with a score of 203-209, representing a six-stroke difference. These games were close calls. According to Chavez, these opponents were specifically selected to challenge the Bears. Through determination and persistence, the players came out victorious. Way to go, Bears!
Some of the teams they will face in their league include Arlington, Paloma Valley, and Liberty. Chavez believes that their biggest competitor will likely be Liberty. That school has been progressively improving in most of its sports, especially golf. Their girls’ team even defeated our girls’ golf team in league play, marking the first time another team has beaten us in decades. Nevertheless, both coaches are certain their team will pull through and come out on top.
[IAN] “Ian Hickman (12) mid-swing.”
Make sure to come out and show your support for the boys’ golf team this year! Go Bears!