Prep golf in Iowa is played with six-person varsity squads, with the four lowest scores used for the team final. When a squad has five of their six starters from the previous year returning for another season, hopes for a successful spring are sure to rise.
Such is the case for head coach Joel Happel and his Perry Jayettes, who will replace the one senior — Ellie Nielsen — who was a varsity starter last season.
“We have good experience coming back, good toughness,” Happel said. “None of these girls are complainers, and will handle the usual bad spring conditions better than many.”
Happel has been practicing with a 12-girl roster, and while he expects a few might drop out along the way — a not uncommon occurrence — he is confident his five returners will play well.
Junior Alyssa Kruger and senior Brooke Huntington will likely battle for the top spot, with senior Sarah Sweet in the third slot. Juniors Hannah Roberts and Skylar Cunningham will likely compete for the fourth position.
Kruger had shoulder surgery to repair a nagging injury and missed the entire basketball season. Happel was, at first, unsure of her availability for the start of the season but said Kruger was “willing to give it a go and said she hasn’t felt in discomfort in her swing.”
The coach was unsure as to who would step up to claim the final varsity spot, but did mention Delaney Eiteman and Madyson Hill as possible candidates in the early stages.
Happel said the one area he would most like to see improvement in would be a sense of continuity.
“Consistency,” he said. “All of our returning five have posted scores in the 40s, but we need to do this consistently, meet to meet.”
“I am looking forward to the season,” Happel added. “This is a good group to work with.”
