By Traeton Harimon
After the first appearance in the NCAA championships in school history last spring, the Loper golf team isn’t quick to put expectations on themselves for this season.
Instead, they’d rather do what they do best, just play golf.
“Expectations can be a good thing, but they can also put unneeded pressure too,” said coach Shawn Rodehorst. “I think if [the] girls let their natural talent and ability and hard work shine, then we’ll be in a great spot.”
After finishing 13th in a field of 15 at the NCAA championships last season, the Loper golf team returned three of its starting five. This has led to navigating a new starting five, trying to find a group that can lead the Lopers to consistent success.
A transition that has been led by the three returners from that championship lineup, including senior Allison Comer.
“We knew that was going to be an adjustment from the start,” Comer said. “Each tournament we really started to understand each other better and just kind of how we worked newly as this group.”
The Lopers found that consistency in the first half of this season, finishing in the top half in each of their five fall meets. Which was highlighted by UNK winning on its home turf at the Nebraska Intercollegiate, the Loper’s first home event since 2019.
Even with the reliable results UNK got in the fall, the best may be yet to come for this group.
“As a team and individually we showed that we can still be pretty good,” Rodehorst said. “We’re just trying to put it all together [this spring].”
UNK will tee it up at the Hillcat Classic hosted by MIAA member Rogers State March 11-12 to open their spring season.
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