Golfers brave cold to prepare for spring season | Spring Sports Preview

By Tate Thomson

Sports Reporter

Golf Coach Jack Rice has high hopes for the 2018 season.

“The first time we don’t go to state is when I will retire,” he says.

This is Rice’s ninth year as head coach, and his golfers have gone to state all eight previous seasons. He is assisted by Gordy Waite, Greg Sawyer and Levi Ross.

The 2018 team hit the green Feb. 26 to start practicing for the season. They practice hard, every day from 3-5:30 p.m., and even on weekend afternoons.

Rice says he hopes the team will “have fun and play lots of golf.”

The team is loaded with juniors this year; 12 boys to be exact. There are five seniors, three sophomores and three freshmen boys on the team. For the girls, there is one senior, one junior and one sophomore.

The golf team allows eighth graders to practice with them, in preparation for being on the team in high school. That was the case for freshman Ethan Havel who practiced with the team all last summer. Rice has big aspirations for senior Dylan Posenjak, who went to state last year.

The team looks forward to competing with rivals Lopez and Orcas Islands this year. According to Rice, they both have strong players returning this year – twins Maia and Zoe Shunk from Orcas, and four girls who went to state last year on the Lopez team.

Coach Rice appreciates the San Juan Golf Club for helping to provide uniforms and golf bags for the team.

“Because of them, we’re no longer the rainbow team,” Rice says.

The team is ready for their first match against Grace Academy on March 15.


Boys and Girls Golf Schedule

3-15 Grace Academy 4 p.m.

3-20 Orcas TBD

3-22 @MVC 3 p.m.

3-29 Lummi Nation 4 p.m.

4-3 @ Lopez 4 p.m.

4-19 MVC 4 p.m.

4-24 @Orcas TBD

4-26 Lopez 4 p.m.

5-1 @ Lummi Nation 4 p.m.

5-3 FH Invitational 4 p.m.