It was a miraculous season during the Fall of 2024 for Wayne High girls golf with many memories made for the community. But as a new chapter begins on the links, the group will be turning their attention on improving each time out.
Josh Johnson will enter year number 18 leading Wayne High girls golf. The team has focused on summer camps and leagues including the Northeast Nebraska Junior Golf Tour as well as weekly open courses.
The Blue Devils won the Class C state title at Lake Maloney Golf Course in North Platte by one stroke over Minden (696-697) but have since graduated three off their varsity team.
Wayne also took fifth in 2023 with a 770 and tied for ninth in 2022 (805).
Along with building up their fundamentals, coach Johnson would like to see the group get better every day.
"Each day we get better than the day before," said Johnson. "Do that all season and we should be playing our best at the end of the season. We hope to challenge for another trip to the State tournament to defend our Class C Championship."
Returners include senior and three-time qualifier Carli Canham who took sixth (78/90) last season, 61st (99/109) in 2023 and tied for 65th (111/108) in 2022 as well as fellow senior Hallie Heithold who tied for 46th (102/97) last year and 64th (101/111) in 2023.
Other seniors this season include Rylynn Owen who started on and off the past two seasons and Claire Reinke who has shown growth over the past four years.
"As a group, I will be looking to them to demonstrate and model the qualities that have made this team successful over the years," Johnson added. "We focus on hard work, positive attitude and creating an environment that girls want to be a part of."
Along with the four seniors, the Blue Devil girls golf team has added three freshmen and two managers.
Canham and Heithold spoke with the Wayne Herald during the fall sports media day on August 13.
Both competed on the Northeast Nebraska Tour and participated in multiple tournaments. They also went out and practiced on their own and hit the range.
Canham started golf the summer before her eighth grade year.
"I was playing a different sport and decided I didn't want to play it anymore," said Canhan. "My family is a big golf family. I joined golf and I've enjoyed it ever since. I love the team aspect. I love the competitiveness."
Heithold started golf her freshmen year and never picked up a club before that.
"I was told by my mom that I had to find something to do," said Heithold. "I originally was going to manage, she said if you are going to manage, you're going to play. I'm excited about the team. We've been together for three years, same team pretty much. We do everything together and have so much fun."
Canham's go-to club is her hybrid which saves her when the driver isn't going well while Heithold's favorite club is her seven-wood.
The Blue Devil girls golf season will get underway on August 21 during the O'Neill Invite.
"We will have to knock some of the rust off and get back to swinging the clubs around," Johnson mentioned. "The girls and I are super excited to get out there and play some golf...we just need to keep working day by day to get better. If we do that things will work themselves out."
Home events from the Wayne Country Club include an invite on August 29, triangular with Cedar Catholic and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge on September 2, triangular with Cedar Catholic and Pierce on September 18 as well as another invite on September 25.
"This is a great group of girls," said Johnson. "They really enjoy being around each other and playing golf. They will be fun to watch for sure...as a coach I am so excited to get back on the course with these young ladies. They are such a joy to coach and I look forward to each and every day. I hope parents, friends and family get out to watch this group."
Some team goals also include trying to grow the team after losing three talented varsity starters. The group also wants to work more on their personal goals and also stay together.
"We just have to keep working on our scores and how to maintain a lower score throughout the season,": said Canham. "It all comes down to districts. Just hoping we make it back even if it's not team wise, just get a couple individuals. State is something to always be thankful for no matter what you place. It's an honor to even make it."
The Wayne High girls golf team appreciates every single fan and their coach.
"It's been just getting back to the course every single day," said Canham. "In summer, you're not there ever single day. We started the season with only four seniors and we've recruited some freshmen which is very necessary for golf."
"Be so exciting, have to work on our mindset, said Heithold. "Golf is a mind game. You're out there for so many hours. You can have a bad hole, you can't let it get to you. Even with those bad times, we have to figure out how are we going to fix them, how are we going to change these little things to get better."
