For the Wright City Wildcats and Warrenton Warriors girls golf teams, 2021 serves as an opportunity to get more established as formidable teams.

In Wright City, there weren’t enough golfers to compete as a team, but head coach Shannon Wells believes in some of the girls that are set to be a part of the 2021 squad.

“This year, we have better numbers and I look forward to watching the girls progress throughout the season,” said Wells. “Our expectations for this season are to improve each match and try to lower our scores. As a new program that can field a full team for the first, I want the girls to work together to place in team events and improve everyday.”

Among the golfers that will be looked to to improve off of her 2020 outings will be a trio of juniors - Katie Schanuel, Alex Sutter, and Anna Sanford.

“Katie competed well in most of her matches, placing in the top ten several times,” said Wells. “Alex Sutter and Anna were new to the program and competitive golf and performed well during the season.”

This is the group that will undoubtedly lead the way for the Wildcats. “I am looking for Katie, Alex, and Anna to help build the program. They have a knowledge of the game that can help the new girls that have come out for the first time,” Wells told the Record. “I am expecting a lot from these ladies when they compete. I expect them to help carry the team in matches and to represent Wright City in Districts and beyond.”

There will also be several new faces on the team this season, and despite their inexperience their coach expects that they will still contribute.

“We have several newcomers this year which increased our numbers from five to 11,” said Wells. “Most have never played before, so I want them to focus on learning the game and everything that goes along with it. I believe all of my newcomers will be able to contribute, whether it is just by improving everyday or by competing as a team member in a golf match. I do believe that Rylee Schaefer (freshman), Aubrey Lorraine (sophomore), Kailin Hawn (sophomore), and Destiny Padgett (senior) will be able to step in and contribute rather quickly.”

Warrenton season preview

For Warrenton, 2020 was a season in which the team earned the most match points for a single season, and head coach Kelly Anderson says the Warriors look forward to building on that for the 2021 campaign.

Returning this season is senior and state qualifier Sam Butkovich, sophomore Merrick Owens, along with Shaye Drees and Olivia Mischlispy.

“This year I am looking for Sam to repeat as a state qualifier, she has really been working on her short game and this will help her over the season. She is very competitive and wants to win each time she is on the course,” Anderson told The Record. “Sam is our leader, she sets the tone of practice and really shows the underclassman what working hard looks like.”

Expectations are also high for Owens.

“I also look for Merrick to compete well, she works hard on her swing in the offseason and I look for her scores to show that,” said Anderson. “It is possible for her to qualify for state as well. She is playing more relaxed and that will help in the later part of our season.”

The Warriors will have a trio of freshmen on the —Rausch, Jenna Marschel, and Sierra Foley — and Anderson is hopeful that the entire team finds a way to have fun throughout the season.

"I look for Hailey and Jenna to compete for some Varsity time throughout the season as well as Sierra towards the later part of the year,” she said. “Other than taking more girls to state, I expect for the girls to go out and have fun. Golf is a sport that takes time and patience to become successful. Each girl should be looking to improve their swing and their scores should lower as the season goes on.”