For the second time in Bear River history, with a record 8-0, the Varsity Bear River Girls Golf team is teeing off the perfect 2019 season.
Longtime Coach Gayne Nakano feels confident in his team.
“They have a lot of skills,” said Coach Nakano. “I think we’re going to be alright.”
Senior Team Captain Dominque Peter reflected on how her last season on the team has been.
“For me, the… season has been amazing,” said Peter. “I am hitting better than I have in past years.”
Some players felt the overall team has improved.
“So far it’s been pretty good,” said Sophomore Corina Shaw. “We have had our ups and downs, but mostly it’s been pretty good.”
Sophomore Julia Pisenti felt very similar to Shaw.
“I think it’s really good because we’re really gelling as a team,” said Pisenti. “We’re having a lot of fun at practice. We’re all trying to improve ourselves and us all as a team.”
Even with the second consecutive perfect season, there are some differences with this season.
“This season is a bit different for me because Nakano chose me to be team captain,” said Peter. “It was a little bit of a surprise, but I’m so happy he did. It’s also different in the fact that it’s my last year, so I’m really trying to make it my best, both personally and with my teammates.”
“It’s definitely going to be difficult because we now have this reputation to live up to,” said Pisenti. “We went to Masters last year so this year our goal is to get to the same spot we were or farther.”
With any team, there’s always a certain dynamic, and this team is no exception.
“I think it’s very good,” said Coach Nakano. “They’re getting along well and they’re having fun. That’s what I’m trying to focus on and making sure they all get along and they enjoy the game.”
Some players also feel the same.
“I feel like it’s not necessarily fighting that happened last year it’s more of we didn’t know how to work as a team,” said Shaw. “But other than that I think we’re good.”
“The team dynamic is better than I have ever seen with my four years on the varsity team,” said Peter. “This year, it feels like everyone [is] actual friends, not just teammates. The players are great, and their personalities are even better.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or you’ve been playing for all your life we all learn… [something] from each other,” said Pisenti. “Whether it’s about golf or about something else, but just what makes us work as a team.”
The girls felt very positive when talking about Coach Nakano.
“Nakano is the same as he’s always been,” said Peter. “He is there for the players when we need him, and he obviously loves golf as well. His advice is usually pretty good, and if it’s not, it always provides a good laugh.”
“He’s always been really good and very chill,” said Shaw. “He lets us have freedom but not too much freedom, so we have fun but then we also practice. I think he’s more into… the coaching factor of it because of the incoming freshmen don’t know, he’s been thinking a little harder.”
Others feel that Coach Nakano helps them on a more emotional level.
“He just makes it a very fun environment,” said Pisenti. “He adds a lot of humor into our practices… he always makes sure that not only if we’re doing okay with golf but also emotionally and school wise. He just looks out for us, that’s a very big part.”
Coach Nakano revealed his prediction for the outcome of this season.
“I think for our league, we should be the best team in the league again because I haven’t heard of any other team getting a lot of good players,” said Coach Nakano. “I’m expecting we should have a pretty good chance of winning the section but that’s hard to predict.”
Overall, this team is ready to go the distance with the season.
“I think the hardest thing will be to win sections and advance to masters as a whole team,” said Peter. “But I am confident we can do it.”
