Following a summer-long off-season of competing on several area courses, the Wayne High girls golf program is ready to tee off this week and make a push for a third consecutive trip to state as a team.
Six returners will bring back postseason experience along with a couple additional Blue Devil girls golfers.
Josh Johnson has been coaching girls golf since the fall of 2008.
Coach Johnson said the girls were able to golf in so many tournaments, Wayne High was able to hit the range quite a bit early on.
“We’re doing a lot of short game stuff,” said Johnson. “Girls went out and played like a hundred (yards) and in a couple times last week already and probably do that a little bit this week. Really try to just get back in the daily grind of it all and then start to work individually for each person.”
Coach Johnson will also have a trio of student managers being Regan Fernau, McKaeya Becker and Gracyn Johnson.
Coach Johnson added the team met a few times at the range but for the most part took part in a summer tour put together by the Norfolk Country Club and Norfolk Public.
“They put a tour together around this area,” Johnson added. “So, they were able to compete in 10 events on different courses around the area. Most of the girls golfed anywhere between three to all 10 of events that really got them some great competition against some really good golfers from the area.”
Wayne High will have three seniors returning who have golfed varsity for three years being Joslyn Johnson (state medalist/District/Conference champ) along with Charli Sievers (District/Conference medalist) and Lindsay Niemann (Conference medalist).
The incoming junior class of Carli Canham (District medalist) as well as Hallie Heithold (fifth varsity member) and Rylynn Owen will be battling for top five spots.
The Blue Devils have won districts the past two years following a fifth place finish at state last year and also tied for ninth in Class C in 2022.
“With all top six girls back, they’re really pushing each other hard to get back to that state tournament,” Johnson mentioned. “Have a good showing here at districts and at conference. A lot of lofty goals for the girls most definitely.”
The Wayne High girls golf team is excited to start their season during the O’Neill Invite on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 9 a.m. This will also be the host site of the Mid State Conference meet on Oct. 3.
Coach Johnson said the team will be walking some holes this week getting into game-shape.
“Just kind of working on ourselves individually,” said Johnson. “It’s kind of nice each girl knows what they want to work on so then we can work on that and just become better. Then just get mentally prepared for the grind that Sept. is with our schedule. We’re going to try to get down here in the next couple of weeks to North Platte to hopefully play on the state course.”
Scheduled home events will be on Friday, Aug. 30 along with Thursday, Sept. 26 and the District Invite in early October . A few of the road triangulars, who are in the same district could be moved to the Wayne Country Club.
The Class C NSAA Girls State Golf Championships will be held in North Platte at Lake Maloney Golf Club Oct. 14 – 15.
