Above photo by Sam Thiel/Below photos courtesy of Marshall boys golf Above: Pictured is the Marshall girls golf team. From (L to R): Sophia Schwartz, Eryn Kraft, Cloie Stevens, Bella Philips, Brooklyn Gossen, Grace Ehlers and Taylor Miller. Not pictured: Mild Du. Below: Pictured is the Marshall boys golf team. Bottom left (L to R): Evan Franson, Sam Schwarz and Luke Ehlers. Bottom right: Front row (L to R): Brysen Babcock, Gavin Welsh, Wyatt Boerboom, Joey Fossum, Jon Eben, Jayden Manthei and Chase Mellenthin. Back row (L to R): Grant Horvath, Justin Cavazos, Ed Nubile, Tanner Myhrberg, Jonah Vierstraete and Zack Kramer.

MARSHALL — In 2019, the Marshall boys and girls golf teams had successful seasons, sending two individuals each to the state meet. But after not being able to get out onto the course last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marshall will look to get back to state under coaches Kari Ehlers and Megan Nickel.

Boys

With no players returning from the previous season, the Marshall boys golf team will look to rebuild and will have four seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and freshmen and an eighth grader on its roster. 

Ehlers said an area they’re hoping to improve on is just gaining “on course” experience.

“Just getting ‘on course’ experience in a competitive setting,” Ehlers said. “Our guys are not very seasoned yet with varsity play and the pressures that come with it mentally and physically.”

Ehlers added they’ve been working on knowing what their distances with different clubs are and said her players have been eager to play and learn from the coaches.

“We need to relearn our distances because of how the guys have matured physically over last summer and we will do that by just getting out on the course,” Ehlers said. “The boys seem eager to play and are doing a good job of applying what the coaches are teaching them.”

Going into the season, Ehlers said she expects her team to become familiar and comfortable with their own game as well as the courses they play.

“Just getting the boys comfortable with their own games, troubleshooting and becoming familiar with the courses that we play out of Marshall,” Ehlers said.

Girls

After not being able to gain experience as a team last season, Nickel said that will be one of the key adjustments going into this year.

“Our team this year is inexperienced,” Nickel said. “They would have gained great knowledge last year in how meets and tournaments are run. We missed out on that experience.”

Marshall will have eight total players on its roster this season, with seven of them being returners. They will be led by Brooklyn Gossen, Bella Philips and Mild Du.

Nickel said an area of strength from their group this season is the positive energy they bring to the course every day.

“The group of girls I have this year are so down to earth and enthusiastic. They don’t let anything bother them and just have fun,” Nickel said. “In the game of golf this enthusiasm will do great things for their games.”

Nickel said her expectations are for her players to continue to improve and have fun on the course.

“Just for each girl to improve their golf game, not to worry about their score but to focus on having fun and improving overall,” Nickel said. “I have a great group of girls who really soak up information that is given to them.  I look forward to being able to teach them as much as I can and let them have some fun with it.”