Young Lady Wolverine golfers look for improvement

SWITZ CITY -- White River Valley High School girls golf coach Karen Collisson is hoping to see continued improvement from her young team that is only in their second year of organized play. Collisson will have five golfers on the team this season.

"Right now we are just going to focus on improving from each and every match both from an individual and team standpoint," Collisson said. "We have a very young team that is basically in it's second official season."

Sophomore's Chelsey Bough and Hannah Pickard are the only two returning golfers this season. The two are joined by senior Dakotah Thomas, sophomore Destiny Good and freshman Makenzie Schantz.

"Dakotah is our lone senior on the team," Collisson said. "She has played a little in the past but she has not played competitively. I can see her improving on her game every day."

Good, is a newcomer to the sport, but her head coach is impressed with the potential she possesses.

"Destiny is a sophomore that has never played before," Collisson mentioned. "But she is really picking up on the ideas really well thus far."

Collisson noted golf is not the easiest game to pick up on, and it takes a strong mental approach to be successful -- something she is trying to get the girls to buy into.

"I tell them they just need to try and find something good about each shot," she said. "Whether it be something as simple as just making contact or getting the ball in the air. I want them to realize that they need to focus on the positive and try to weed out all the negative."

Collisson also is trying to relay to them about possible opportunities in the sport beyond high school.

"I keep telling them there are all kinds of college scholarships for female golfers," she said. "But also that they need to continue to work at it and need to put in some time on their own as well."

As with everything in life, one must learn how to take constructive criticism. Collisson said the girls have handled it with open arms.

"They don't take the criticism in a negative way," coach Collisson said. "They have been taking it positive. They are having working hard and having a good time with it."

Collisson also mentioned she is trying to get the girls to understand a short compact swing is more beneficial than trying to rear back and knock the ball on the green.

"The hardest thing to teach them right now is they don't need to kill the ball to be effective," she said. "I am trying to get them to realize this game is more about finesse and less about power."

The Lady Wolverines will open their season on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Phil Harris against Linton-Stockton and Northview.

"I am just hoping to have a successful season," Collisson said. "A successful season for us is to improve each time out, hopefully win a few matches or at least be close."

White River Valley

Girls Golf Roster

Player Gr.

Coach: Karen Collisson (second season).