May Mercer Island’s girls golf streak continue | Spring Preview
Published 1:35 pm Tuesday, March 30, 2010
For 22 matches, the girls golf team at Mercer Island has enjoyed bringing home the win. Over the past three seasons, the team has bested its opponents and this year, of course, the girls want that streak to continue.
“We want to try and win state, districts and KingCo,” said senior captain Jackie Pearson. Her co-captain, Kristen Numata, another senior, said no other school has won KingCo three years in a row.
The team returns with most of last year’s golfers, losing just three seniors to graduation. The Islanders finished fourth as a team at state last year.
“We’re returning such a close-knit team,” said Pearson. “We definitely want to improve and build on last year.” The program has a large varsity and JV group, so the captains said they’ve been working this season to improve the team’s unity.
“We’re trying to blend the two teams and make sure everyone feels included,” said Numata. “Golf isn’t just an individual sport; it’s a lot about the team, too.”
The Islanders also have a bit of a new look this season, after a community group helped the team purchase golf bags. The Mercer Island Community Fund, a conglomeration of community and civic groups, as well as individuals on the Island, gave the program money to help purchase bags, something that the team has never had before. The funds, along with money raised by the players’ families, allowed the program to purchase 20 golf bags.
“We’ve been without bags for 13 years, since the beginning of the program,” said returning head coach Don Papasedero. “A huge thanks and praise to the MI Community Fund for helping us. The girls love them.” This season, every member of the team will have a new bag.
“Without the generous support of the Mercer Island Community Fund, we would have been forced to exclude some of our team members’ use of bags,” said Papasedero.
“We’re so happy,” said Pearson about the bags. “We’re very excited. We just got them and they’ve been so much fun to use.”
This season, the captains said they are looking forward to playing Bellevue and Inglemoor, and of course their home matches at Jefferson Park.
The team will host Lake Washington at Jefferson, the team’s home course located on Beacon Hill, on April 1 at 3:30 p.m. They travel to face Woodinville at Wayne golf course on April 14.
2010 Schedule
4/6 4 PM vs. Shorewood
4/12 4 PM vs. Lake Washington Sr
4/14 3:30 PM @ Woodinville
4/19 4 PM vs. Bellevue
4/27 3:30 PM @ Ballard
4/28 3 PM @ Bothell
5/3 4 PM vs. Inglemoor
