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Sunday, June 1, 2008
In the Footsteps of Success
Greater Louisville, KY
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Despite a lack of varsity experience, members of Floyd Central’s golf team aim to continue the success of their predecessors.
For the last four years there have been two certainties every spring in Floyds Knobs.
One, the parking lot of Berry Twist, a local drive-up ice cream shop, will be packed. And two, the Floyd Central boys' golf team will contend for a state title.
This year, though, the Highlanders--the two-time defending Indiana state champs--have had a higher hill to climb. That's because Floyd Central, a state finalist the last four years, has had to replace nine graduated seniors this season.
"Basically all the kids playing this year had no varsity experience," says Floyd Central coach Mike Cason.
On a recent May afternoon at Valley View Golf Club, the Highlanders' home course, there were signs of Floyd Central's past success. More specifically, one sign, which lists the accomplishments of both the boys' and girls' golf teams. Included among those were four straight Hoosier Hills Conference titles, five straight sectional championships as well as a seventh-place finish at state in 2004, a fourth in 2005 and back-to-back state titles in 2006-07.
And early on this season the pressure of those past successes brought heavy expectations, which were difficult at first for a team that includes three juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen--and some growing pains too.
"You're always going to have a lot of weight on your shoulders," junior Chase Cadle says. "The previous years it was very competitive, we had a lot of talent. In the beginning of this season we realized we had to work harder than we were used to. It started out rough, but we're kind of getting it back now. Last week (winning the Southern Indiana Open on May 10) was a turning point for us."
But the Highlanders' turnaround can also be traced to what the current group learned from the teams that came before them.
"They taught us everything we know pretty much," junior Ben Clark says. "Last year's group was real close, we weren't that close (at the start of the season), but we're starting to realize when each other is playing good and when we're playing bad."
Adds Cadle: "I think they taught us maturity in our game. There's a big difference between this year and last year, playing varsity golf is different--you've got to make smart decisions and not fool around."
The last two, especially, were things that Cason has stressed to his team this season.
"To see them make good decisions, make good course management decisions, they're coming along pretty good," Cason says. "I'm pretty optimistic about the state tournament."
A win would be a tall order. The IHSAA State Finals are June 10-11 at The Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin, Indiana. No team has ever won three straight state titles.
"We can't just let it go," Clark says. "It's very rare for anybody to have an opportunity like that."
So your goal is to win another state championship?
"Win state, yeah," Clark says.
That would be the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae from Berry Twist.
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