High school golf: Highland girls have goals, but are enjoying the ride to state too

When you spend so much time working toward a goal, you better take the time to savor the moment when it arrives. That is the message the veterans of the Highland girls golf team hope their teammates hear as the powerhouse Hornets get set to make their third consecutive and 10th overall appearance at the Division I state tournament Friday and Saturday. "We've been working towards going to the state tournament the whole year," junior Paige McKendry said. "Now that we've made it, just have fun and take it all in. We finally made it, so just play your game." McKendry and fellow junior Isabella Goyette have played in two state tournaments during Highland's current run, but for the rest of the team it will be the first time playing the Ohio State University Golf Club's Gray Course. Goyette, a two-time Gazette MVP, remembers what a powerful moment stepping onto the tee box can be for a young player. "When I first went to the state tournament it was very intimidating, because it's like, 'Oh, the state tournament,'" she said. "Once it starts, it's just like any other tournament and you're there to have fun. "It's the last tournament of the season, so you shouldn't put any pressure on yourself. Just have fun, be there with your teammates and that's all there is to it." Goyette knows the rest of the team is ready for what awaits "I think they're really hopeful and excited for what's to come," she said. "I can't wait to share it with them." Along with Goyette and McKendry, freshman Elizabeth Coleman and junior Kavya Chada have given the Hornets a strong and consistent top four through most of the season. Coach Mary Becker will make a final determination on who will be the team's fifth player and who will be the alternate between sophomores Avery Albright and Kendall Sprutte. Chada made strong contributions throughout last season, earning honorable mention All-Gazette, but with three seniors on that team Becker opted to have her serve as the alternate. Chada's average has fallen from 43.1 to 42.3 this season and she has twice shot her season best of 80. "I'm excited, but nervous at the same time," she said. "It's definitely going to be a different experience playing, rather than watching the team play. No matter what, we made it to the state tournament, so I'm going to have fun and play my best. That's all I can do." The Hornets have spent the past week focusing on lengthening the courses they play to mimic the Gray Course while keeping things light and fun. When they play their practice round today, Becker will be focused on fine-tuning where they want to be on each hole and what clubs they want to hit off the tee. Once the tournament starts, Becker will be focused on making sure those making their first appearance, especially, are in the right frame of mind. "I'm probably going to have to pay most of my attention coaching to the three kids that haven't been there," Becker said. "I'll do a lot of hopping around between them and let (Goyette and McKendry) be more independent." One thing Becker expects to be a pleasant change of pace from her previous nine trips with the Hornets is the weather, with temperatures hovering in the low to mid 70s with little to no chance of precipitation. "I don't think I've ever been down there where we've had a rainless or snowless three days," Becker said. Highland has cruised through the postseason so far, winning the final Suburban League American Conference tournament at Brookledge with a 298 to clinch the league title — it tied for the seventh-lowest score in Medina County history — winning the Fox Den Sectional with a 301 and finishing runner-up at the Brookledge District with a 328 on an extremely windy day. The team's nine-hole average of 157.6 is a half stroke lower than last year's team that finished fifth with a county state tournament record 621. Goyette's 35.64 nine-hole average ranks second in county history behind Jessica Porvasnik's 35.60 in 2012 and just ahead of her own 36.0 last season. Goyette also tied her own record for low round with an 8-under 63 at the Blue Devil Classic and tied Porvasnik's county record of seven rounds in the 60s in one season. McKendry has dropped her average from 41.0 to 39.8, shooting a personal best even-par 71 at the final Suburban League tournament. Coleman has taken firm control of being the Hornets' third scorer with a 40.5 average. She has 10 rounds under 80 this season and only five rounds over 85. The youngest of the Hornets is looking forward to the chance to get her teammates even better. "I'm really excited to spend the weekend with the team," Coleman said. "I think it's going to be really fun." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.