Boys Golf

Putting together a team

Boys golf team uni es more as season continues

Madelyn Lerew lerewmad000@hsestudents.org

Teeing o into the season, the boy’s golf team’s 14 players are out on the green. Under the direction of head coach Michael Mozingo, the team has played in nine-hole matches and invitationals so far this season. e team started their season before spring break with tryouts. “We had 28 boys tryout this year and we ended up keeping 14,” Mozingo said. “We had a number of rounds that they played, along with taking a look at their swing and grading them on skills both on the range and short-game areas.” Fi y percent of the people from tryouts that made it onto the team began practices in order to prepare for their matches. ey practice Monday through Friday in Noblesville at Purgatory Golf Club. “Some days we’ll play nine holes, and other days we’ll be at the driving range or putting green,” sophomore Will Major said. Due to the unique skill set that golf requires, making it onto the team requires prior experience. Sophomore Ryan Stewart, for example, has played with his family in the past. “I started playing golf four years ago when my parents taught me,” Stewart said. “My mom’s whole side of the family plays golf, so I was put into it. My favorite part of golf is making a long putt.” Other members of the team have a more recent start, beginning to play the sport pre-pandemic. One reason is injury from other sports. It can push people into golf, due to it being less physically demanding. “I’ve played golf for three years,” Major said. “I used to play baseball, but I hurt my knee. Over COVID, I got into golf.” Starting the sport from an early age allows you to gain experience and expertise. Coach Mozingo is a perfect example of this, as he began playing early in life and continues the sport with coaching. “I started playing when I was about ve years old,” Mozingo said. “I played for my high school team and in college.” e team participates in matches each week, taking buses to the home golf club of the school they are playing at. “We have matches twice a week and every Saturday,” Stewart said. “ e courses change every time we play.” e team itself is split in two, with junior varsity (JV) and varsity. Players who are a part of varsity compete to play in state-run tournaments that occur during and a er the school year ends. “ e JV team nishes up their season on May 21 with their Turnersville invite and then sectionals for the varsity team are on June 6,” said Mozingo. “We’re o to a pretty good start but there’s always room for improvement. ey’re working hard at the games and hopefully, we’ll continue to see some improvement as we move along.” e sport of golf in nature is a very individual game. Playing together with a small group of players from your school allows for the team aspect of high school sports to still shine through. “It’s a little more intimate with only 14 guys,” Mozingo said. “ e ability to know each one of them individually and to know their games improve. As we move through it’s nice to be able to see that individual component and the team component.”

Graphics by Madelyn Lerew.