DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Starting a high school athletic program from scratch is no easy task and when that sport is not played on the grounds of the school, it’s even more difficult.
Those obstacles have not stopped the Heritage girls’ golf team from quickly becoming a contender in the ACAC and in northeast Indiana.
To be truthful, the Patriots have not been a contender in the ACAC, but rather its most successful program over the past decade, winning regular season and tournament titles over a dozen times.
“We started the program in 2016 and took off like a rocket,” says head coach Amanda Minchski “I was hired because the kids told Mrs. Gilbert (athletic director at the time) that I would coach. She approached me about the job and the rest is history.”
Minchski, who also coaches the softball team at Heritage, saw a long string of conference titles come to an end in 2022, with the team finishing a disappointing sixth at sectional, but with just one graduating senior, she hopes the Patriots’ experience will bring big improvements in 2023.
Raelyn Mullins was runner-up at last year’s ACAC meet and the undisputed #1 for the Patriots in her senior season. The team, however, returns five girls from last year’s squad and adds three new freshmen to the mix.
Natalie Otte and Olivia Minnich are both seniors, while Alexis Bremer and Aubree Rebeck are returning juniors. Otte and Minnich joined the team as juniors and will work to bring their nine-hole averages down to the low 50s this year, while Bremer and Rebeck are focusing on consistently being below 60 on weeknights.
Sophomore Liz Buuck will also be in the varsity mix.
“Liz has been showing great progress when we practice our short game,” notes Minchski.
The three freshmen out for the team are Lynneah Whitacre, Aubrey Stoll and Natalie Sorg.
“All three are still finding their swings but are making good progress,” says the coach.
The team will play home matches at McMillen again, where Minchski notes that the course is well-suited for her team’s ability level.
The Patriots kick off their season at the South Adams Invite Wednesday.
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