Trojan boy’s golf is starting up again with golfers ready to win and a coach excited to get things going.  Coach Ed DenBeste said that his goal is to be one of the top, or the first in the conference this year.  

With that, he also expected the golfers to be good competition on Tuesday, April 5 because they were playing on the home course.  Although DenBeste hoped to beat Carroll Kuemper  by 8 or 9 strokes, the team pulled off a slimmer victory with one stroke.

 DenBeste mentioned Matt Gearheart as someone who has played a lot and knows the course so he will contribute well to the team.  “Players 1 through 5 are solid and can play in any position,” said DenBeste.

“Players 6 through 8 could possibly make an appearance in varsity.”  DenBeste said some things the boys still need to practice on are how to keep their patience when things go bad, and how to play in different weather conditions.  He expects Jake Olsen and Kyle Nelson to step up and be leaders and hopes to see some leadership through Zac Stork and Nate Gifford.  Overall, he said every player will have some part in leadership through different sports that they have participated in.

Freshman Matt Gearheart said, “We have a lot of experience at other courses for competing, and a lot of experience at our own course to do good.”  Gearheart sees Jake Olsen stepping up to be a leader because he is #1 on the team, and wants to do good things.  Gearheart is really nervous but very anxious to play.  Individually, Matt hoped to place in the top 5, and he achieved that Tuesday night.

Sophomore Ben Renaud said, “Jake Olsen will do a lot for us.  He works very hard and stepped up for us last year.”  He hopes to get leadership from Kyle Nelson because he is a senior, and Jake Olsen because he is #1.  Renaud was really excited for the first meet. Renaud also hoped to place in the top 5 and met his goal.  As a team, Ben hopes to be stronger this year and just get more experience.  

Junior Jake Olsen said, “We all have the ability to play well as a team and if we do that then we will be able to win a lot of golf tournaments.”  Olsen sees Kyle Nelson as being a leader because he has played varsity golf for four years now and knows how to lead a team.  Olsen  said, “Carroll Kuemper is the best team in Hawkeye 10 so [Tuesday’s meet] should be a good chance to see where we are as a team.”  Olsen would like to improve scores from last year to win more, but as a team he would like to see them win the Hawkeye 10 Conference title and make it to State.  

Senior Kyle Nelson wants the ability to hit the long ball.  Nelson thinks everyone on the team will be a leader and hopefully do what is best for the team.  Nelson said, “I’m really nervous but also prepared and ready to get this season underway.”  He hopes to just be an overall better player this year, and as a team, hopes to be stronger than last year and be more mature.