Demons: veteran squad, inexperienced team Washington has 6 straight SEC titles, return 4 girls state tournament participants

WASHINGTON - With a year away from the sport due to the coronavirus driving the closure of schools, Washington girls golf head coach Len Kull is not sure of who should be favored in the Southeast Conference race. Demons boys coach Collin Stark names Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield as the likely contenders for the SEC title.

Washington's girls return Kiki Bruner, Josie Tanner and Emma Nichols from the 2019 team that finished sixth at the state tournament. Anna Nacos played in that tourney as well.

Nacos was third and Bruner fourth, a stroke apart with scores of 152 and 153 with second at 150. Emily Waite was 33rd as a junior, then lost her senior year as did Macy Driscoll and Madison Fishback.

This year there are six seniors with Halle Barkema and Cameron Malichky on the team. Sophomores are Alecia Goff, Kaylin Long, Makenna Conrad with freshmen Maci Williams, Gabby Goodwin, Natalie Prohaska and Reagan Stouder.

'The biggest improvement I see is usually from their first to second year,” Kull said. 'It's too bad these sophomores didn't get to play as freshmen, but I think we will be fine. I know those sophomores have played a lot.”

The new players and the inclement weather has Kull spending time inside and talking through rules with the team and especially the newer players. Pop quizzes are usually reserved for the classroom but Kull has them at golf practice.

'Somebody always comes out of the pack and has a good year so it will be interesting to see who that is,” Kull said. 'The philosophy is do your best, prepare properly, take care of yourself, know the rules and things usually fall into place. Our mantra has been don't give up and keep an even keel.”

Waite averaged a 51 score in 2019 while Bruner was at 39, Nichols 56, Nacos 41 and Tanner 42.

'We have an interesting mix of upper and lower classmen as well as veteran golfers and beginners,” Kull said. 'We will just watch everybody improve over the course of the season and hopefully we will be competitive when the time comes.”

The Southeastern Conference Tournament will be at Washington this season.

Kull started coaching the team in 1980 and has five state titles for the Demons. The Demons have won the SEC title every year since 2014 but will have Burlington to contend with this year.

Burlington does not field a spring boys golf team, playing in the fall.

'The Southeast Conference is wide open this year,” Stark said. 'Most schools in the conference are in the same boat as us with unknowns.”

Most of the top golfers in the conference are now graduated from 2019. The Demons who didn't get a senior season were Caleb tanner, Brock Sobaski, Brady Knutson, Grayson fedler and Hayden Westphal.

Stark said Mount Pleasant is reloading and there is growth in Fairfield, which was very young in 2019 and still finished third in the conference.

'I believe the race starts with those two teams,” Stark said. 'I see Fort Madison and Keokuk being very similar to use with young guys on their teams as well.”

Juniors John Prohaska and Grant Sobaski will be counted on to lead the team with their experience. The team has increased numbers since WACO is a part of the program.

Junior Bryan Ackerman joins sophomores Isaac Vetter, Teague Mayer, Luke Beenblossom, Kole Williams, Bryce Ackerman and freshman Roman Roth.

'We are looking for Grant and John making that next step,” Stark said. 'Everyone is extremely coachable so far and are driven to want to get better each day. I am looking forward to seeing their growth from the beginning of the year until the end.”

A big meet at the end of the year will be the sectional tournament and it will be at the Washington Country Club May 14.

'That is exciting to have the opportunity to play on our home course,” Stark said. 'I can't wait though to see what these young guys can do this year.”

Since the team is so young, the potential is great and that will be measurable from the first meet to the last meet this year.

'We need to be able to put four good scores together each meet to be able to compete,” Stark said. 'We have up to eight guys that are in the running for varsity. We need to individually improve each day and play our best by the end of the season. I think you will see great overall improvement from our team.”