PANORA — Last season was the first for the Panorama girls golfers under head coach Melissa Hochstetler, and the team showed steady progress as their campaign progressed, enough so that the goals for this year have been reset.
“Each girl has a score in mind that they would like to achieve by the end of the year, and every score they listed are realistically within reach,” Hochstetler said. “I believe they will not only reach those goals, but some will definitely exceed them.”
Seniors Anna Duis, Madi Fear and Lauren McClatchey return, with junior Taylor Rabikis also returning. They will joined by junior Cierra Wright, who played for Waukee last season. Underclassmen include sophomores Alex Kurtz and Chloe Webster, with freshmen Abby Cobb and Jordan Douglass also joining the squad.
All returning players experienced time playing for the varsity six last year. Hochstetler noted the difference between carrying a varsity bag or not was often the matter of only one or two strokes, and that the competition, far from causing division, had instead brought the team together and made every player better.
The Panthers were stopped just shy of making it the second round of the postseason in 2017, and advancing one more stage is a team goal, with the coach stating she was positive the team has a great shot of doing so.
Lake Panorama National serves as the home course for both Panther golf teams, and the Panorama girls were excited to hear LPN has been chosen to host the Class 2A State Tournament this year.
“We are eager to get started and will be practicing as much as we can at LPN,” Hochstetler said. “It is a really great course and we are privileged to play there, and the news that the state tourney being held here is just icing on the cake!”
The Panthers open their season April 2 when the join Ogden and Madrid for a triangular at Cedar Pointe in Boone. Three additional road dates follow before Panorama hosts their first home meet, with Earlham and Van Meter visiting LPN April 20.
