Sports

Sioux return experience

By Tyler Ohmann

04/30/2013

Despite lackluster weather and several indoor practices, the Westhope-Newburg Sioux golf team is still excited for this season.

On the boys side the Sioux return several strong players from last season, including junior Hunter Braaten, who one year ago finished in 32nd in the state with a two-day 173 at Oxbow Country Club.

“We should have pretty comparable scores coming in, because we only lost one senior,” said Casey Mills, Sioux head coach. “If everybody did their part this summer and can improve a couple of strokes, we should be sitting about where we were last season,” Mills added.

That senior was Trevor Hulse, who was also at Oxbow. Hulse shot a 187 at the tournament and was a leader all season long.

However the Sioux return five of six region golfers including seniors Lane Berentson, Jon Sivertson, Dylan Statton and Ben Sharkey. Other golfers returning include Tyler Rubbert and freshman Chase Conway.

Braaten is the big stick for the Sioux though, and Mills expects another trip to state.

“We’re looking forward to another visit to state from Hunter,” Mills said. “He played all summer long and he doesn’t even play the same as he used to.”

On the girls side of the Sioux they will have only two golfers this season. The biggest loss from last year was Kylee Conway, who advanced to state and shot a two-day 195 to take 56th place.

The two returners for the Sioux are Lexi Wyman and senior Jade Teske.

Teske was also at state last year and finished in 43rd place with scores of 98 and 90.

Expectations are high for Teske this season according to Mills.

“We’re definitely expecting her to qualify as an individual again,” Mills said about Teske.

The most difficult thing for the Sioux thus far has been practice, and Mills admits there isn’t a lot the team can do until they can get outside.

“The big thing is that they have to stay focused, play at the simulators and learn what they can from there,” Mill said. “Take what we give for advice swing-wise and hitting into the nets.”

While the team still hasn’t stepped foot on a course, they did recently begin working on some short game near the school.

“The thing that we’re starting to do is that we have some grass out by school, so the best we can do as coaches is teach them to bring a strong short game,” Mills said. “We won’t have any opportunities to past 50 or 60 yards.”

The first boy’s meet is scheduled for Thursday in Garrison.

For the girls they are scheduled for a meet on Friday in Underwood.