Raiders lock up Coulee girls golf crown
Arcadia’s Kalyce Sobotta tied for third at the Coulee Conference mini-meet in Black River Falls last Tuesday, where the Raiders won as a team to clinch this year’s conference championship. (Times photograph by Zach Rastall)
G-E-T’s Julia Baures led the way for her team by firing a 52 last week at Skyline Golf Course. (Times photograph by Zach Rastall)
Heading into the 18-hole conference finale tournament, the pressure was already off the Arcadia girls golf team in their pursuit of the Coulee Conference title thanks to them earning a clean sweep in all five mini meets over the past month.
The Raiders put the finishing touches on clinching a conference championship by winning the final Coulee mini meet of the regular season last Tuesday at Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls.
It marked a triumphant return to the top of the Coulee Conference for the program, which didn’t field a team in 2023 after winning five consecutive conference titles from 2018 to 2022.
“I’ve been really proud of the team’s overall performance this season, but especially of how much this group has grown over the past few years,” said Arcadia head coach Rylee Haines. “The majority of our team is made up of seniors, and I’ve been fortunate enough to coach them since they first started playing golf. When they came out for the team, they were all new to the sport and were still learning the basics. To see where they are now and the strides they have made has been really rewarding.”
The Raiders cobbled together a team score of 210 to win the Skyline mini meet, finishing nine strokes ahead of the host Tigers and their mark of 219. Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau followed in third at 241.
Cochrane-Fountain City senior Jorja Wolfe was the day’s top individual with a 46, a single shot ahead of Arcadia senior Amaya Schlesser in second. They were followed by Arcadia senior Kalyce Sobotta and BRF senior Andrea Cogswell in a tie for third at 49 and C-FC sophomore Bailey Kujak in fifth with a 50.
Seniors Chloe Schlosstein and Riley Walters shot a 56 and 58, respectively, to also contribute to the Raider team score.
“I think a big part of our success has been the girls’ willingness to keep learning, working, and supporting one another. Golf can be a frustrating sport, especially when there’s always so much to learn, but they have continued to encourage each other and stay positive,” Haines said. “At the same time, they have been able to have a lot of fun together. They genuinely enjoy being around one another, and I think that has helped create a team environment where they feel comfortable, supported, and excited to come to practice and compete.”
G-E-T junior Julia Baures fired a 52 to place seventh overall as an individual. Other scores for the Red Hawks included sophomore Camille Engel with a 60, junior Eva Schubert with a 64 and senior Madeline Ruud with a 65.
After competing in the Coulee Conference Championships at Trempealeau Mountain Golf Club earlier this week, Arcadia and G-E-T are both right back at Trempealeau Mountain next Tuesday for a Division 2 regional meet starting at 9 a.m.
Qualifying teams and golfers advance to a sectional meet at Prairie du Chien Country Club on Monday, Oct. 5 starting at 9 a.m.
