Starting off the season with a new coach, the boys golf team has begun with a 3-2 record in league. New coach and photography teacher Craig Racicot finds the experience quite enjoyable.
“I absolutely love it, especially if you consider the kids that I have,” Racicot said. “I think we run the gamut in terms of the highest academic achievers to some who are struggling.”
This being his first experience in coaching, Racicot relies on the help of his players.
“For me, in my first coaching experience with high school, it was a bit hectic at first,” Racicot said. “I’m learning something new every day, but the boys have been very patient with me. Many have been in the program before, and they help me considerably.”
Racicot allows the players to manage themselves, as he is still new to MC’s golf program.
“I don’t even consider myself a coach because I’m not much of a golfer at all,” Racicot said. “I’m more of an administrator: I let the boys pretty much handle their lineups, who they want to be paired up with, and who’s even in the lineup, because they know each other better than I do, so it’s a learning experience for me.”
The team, which consists of eight players, bonds well despite their age differences and differences in academic achievement.
“We’re all really diverse, but get along really well,” senior Jeffery Hsiao said. “We all have a lot of fun together.”
Along with working together in practice, they also enjoy bonding during the van rides up to matches. One of the team’s core five players, sophomore Marc Herrmann, expresses his fondness for the rides.
“During the van rides, we play songs that we all know and we sing to them to get pumped up for our matches,” Herrmann said.
The other core players of the team include Hsiao, senior Benjamin Young, senior Ryan Fife, and senior Kirk Herrmann
As far as the team’s success, the team still has some work to do, according to Racicot.
“I think [the season] is well, we haven’t reached our peak yet,” Racicot said. “The kids haven’t reached their full stride. Our top 5 players have not shot their lowest scores consistently yet, but I think that it will happen.”
Hsiao agrees with Racicot’s view of the season.
“We’re not doing as well as we hoped to,” Hsiao said. “A lot of the seniors are out of practice and still getting back into the swing (pun) of things, but hopefully we’ll come through soon.”
Marc Herrmann has a different viewpoint on the team’s success.
“The season is going alright, we’re doing decent,” he said. “The team is pretty cool, we’ve got a lot of seniors, so no one really cares, but we just play and have fun.”
The team beat San Marcos on Monday 202 to 231. Marc Hermann shot a 38, Young shot a 38, and Hsiao shot a 39.
Racicot dreads the end of the season, as the team is already halfway through.
“I couldn’t ask for better kids to be with,” Racicot said. “It’s been really enjoyable. I’m going to regret the end of the season.”
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