Oconto Falls girls golf team reloading as season gets underway

Lemorande, Sadowski ready to lead way
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

OCONTO FALLS — The Oconto Falls High School girls golf team is looking for several new golfers to step up as the fall season gets underway.

The Panthers will return their top two golfers, Grace Lemorande and Kaylee Sadowski, from a season ago, but also graduated three players from last year’s regional team.

Juniors Carli Fischer, Morgan Blazek and Kearra Champeau and sophomores Danielle Darby and Khloe VanDornick are golfers that coach Paul Luebke hopes are improved from last year and will help fill out the roster.

In the first few practices of the year, the team also had six freshmen and a new senior vying for spots on varsity.

“We have a team of young ladies who are really interested in the game of golf and want to learn,” said Luebke.

Lemorande, now a senior, served as the team’s No. 1 golfer at regionals last year and turned in the top score on the team.

Sadowski, entering her junior year, was named the team’s most valuable golfer a season ago. She finished third on the team at regionals.

While still serving as leaders on the scorecards, the duo will hope to fill leadership roles for their younger and more inexperienced teammates.

“Just trying to include them, not just hanging out with some of the older kids,” said Lemorande. “Being able to work one-on-one with them and making everyone feel comfortable with us and the game too because the more you do it, the more comfortable you are.”

“I feel like the game is 90% mental, so a lot of it is in your head. When you’re golfing with other girls, it can be very intimidating from what I’ve learned so you just have to focus on your game and you can’t focus on other people’s,” said Sadowski.

Oconto Falls competes in the North Eastern Conference, which Luebke expects to be competitive from the top to the bottom.

The Panthers opened practice on Monday and will get their first taste of competitive golf on Friday, competing in a scramble against Bonduel, Oconto and Sturgeon Bay. The team’s first meet will be Tuesday, and the team’s first hosted match will come Aug. 23.

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