Columbus North’s Harper Andresen hits her tee shot on No. 8 while playing Perry Meridian Aug. 7, 2023 at Timbergate Golf Course.
The Republic file photo
Inexperience is the key word regarding most of the local girls golf teams heading into the 2025 season.
Columbus North and Columbus East will be among the teams relying on golfers who have little to no golfing experience. How those players develop will determine the success of those squads.
The season begins Monday with East playing in the Bloomington South Invitational and Jennings County hosting New Washington. North opens Aug. 11 at home against Perry Meridian.
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs have a new coach in Alexandria Weisheit following the retirement of longtime leader Scott Seavers. Weisheit is a former collegiate golfer and was an assistant coach last year.
North had 11 golfers for the first day of tryouts Friday. The Bull Dogs have a second day of tryouts Monday.
“(Friday) was a really good day,” Weisheit said. “I’m really happy with numbers. I thought the energy was really good, and we made a lot of progress at getting better at golf. I look forward to working hard and getting better.”
With the top four golfers from last year’s regional qualifying team having graduated, junior Harper Andresen is the lone varsity returnee. Sophomores Pia Mantooth, Sophia Wills, Caroline Crawford and Alisha Singh played junior varsity.
Beyond that, North will have several newcomers.
“We are very new to the game,” Weisheit said. “With them being freshmen, I haven’t been able to watch them very much. So it’s hard to say what those five (varsity) spots will look like.”
Columbus East
The Olympians return two varsity golfers from a team that finished fifth in the Bloomington North Sectional.
East coach LaDonna VanDeventer had eight girls at the first practice Friday.
“They looked pretty good,” VanDeventer said. “Definitely next year, we will be strong.”
Sophomore Abby King and senior Amaylie Walsh return to the varsity. Sophomores Sofia Perez and Kolbi Stephenson played mostly JV.
Junior Calleigh Gill, who played volleyball the past two years, and her sister, freshman Emma Gill, are contending for varsity spots. The Olympians have two other newcomers in junior Briella Walsh and freshman Caroline Grider.
“I think they’re going to be pretty strong,” VanDeventer said. “They’re athletic. There’s a lot of natural talent.”
Hauser
The Jets will look for bigger things in Year 2 of the program after finishing 10th in their inaugural season last year.
“We’ve been getting together a couple times a week since moratorium,” Hauser coach Steve Todd said. “They’re not bad. They’re further along this year than they were last year at this time. Golf is one of those games where you have to take baby steps, but we’re making progress.”
Three of the top four golfers return in juniors Cheyanne Moody and Lydia Taylor and sophomore Bekah Sessions. Todd is also hoping sophomore Karmin Murphy, who played last year, comes back to give them enough players to score as a team.
“Bekah and Cheyanne really made a lot of progress at the end of the season last year, so we’re hoping we can build on that,” Todd said.
Jennings County
The Panthers are hoping to advance to regional as a team this year after getting Grace Oden there as a freshman last season.
Junior Amilia Gresham and sophomore Temprance Eggleston also return to the varsity. Junior Victoria Baez played mostly JV.
Freshman Shelby Klescht is the lone newcomer.
“Our goal this year is to get the whole team to regional,” Jennings coach Vanessa Shepherd said. “I think they’re ready to go.”
Brown County
The Eagles will have two returners and four others who are new to the game of golf.
Senior Chloe Poling has been an All-Western Indiana Conference player the past two years. Junior Caitlynn Lookebill also returns from a team that finished sixth in the sectional.
Newcomers sophomore Jasmyn Kolacz and juniors Nevaeh Caito, Maggie Gredy and Cami Keaton will look to improve as the season propgresses.
“The four new ones, we’re just trying to teach them the game as best we can,” Brown County coach Brad Baughman said. “They’ve only hit balls at the range and chipped and putted. We’re just working on the basic swing, trying to get that going. It looks like it’s going to be enjoyable, though.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers have a new coach in Richie McGaha, who has coached basketball at the school for 25 years and was assistant boys golf coach this spring.
McGaha currently has only one player in sophomore returner Sophia Pace.
“Sophia is going to see if she can get some more girls to play, so hopefully, we can have more players,” McGaha said.
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars have five golfers this year after only one last year.
Junior Jennifer Jones is the lone returner. She is joined by sophomore newcomers Kinsley Storey and Mina Croquart and freshmen Katy Luedeman and Ava Hien.
“I’m not worried about any of them needing too much guidance,” Trinity coach Brooks Thoele said. “Everybody is getting the ball airborne, and that is a good start. The swings are there. Now, it’s just the mental part of the game.”
