SOLON — 2022 was a year of two firsts for the Solon varsity girls golf team as they qualified for the State Meet for the first time since 1998 and were welcomed to Saddleback Ridge golf course as their new home. The Lady Spartans finished third in the WaMaC conference in the annual Super Meet and finished second in Regional competition ahead of an eighth-place finish at State. Solon was fourth in the WaMaC at 26-15 in conference play and 27-15 overall behind Champion Williamsburg (46-2/46-2), runner up Beckman Catholic (29-8/30-8), and West Delaware (40-11/40-11).
The team lost Camryn Keith, Izzy Messenger, Lauren Roskopf, Emma Hupfeld, and Morgan Meiers to graduation. Keith, a four-year varsity standout, played in the No. 1 spot last year and earned 1st Team All-Conference honors. Messenger was the No. 6 player while Roskopf saw some varsity time.
Back for eighth-year coach Curtis Hendrickson (169-140 career record) and assistants Matt Messenger (fifth year) and Chad Gerdes (first year) are four of last year’s top-six — seniors Taylor Dee and Lilly Houtakker, and juniors Rylie Greazel and Peyton Pentico.
“Taylor Dee and Lilly Houtakker had nearly identical averages last year, so either one of them can play the No. 1 spot for us. Rylie Greazel and Peyton Pentico played in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, and they will likely move up to the No. 3 and No. 4 spots,” Coach Hendrickson said. The No. 5 and No. 6 spots, the coach said, will be a competition between Sydney Dee (sophomore), Bailey Woolley (junior), Izzy Frees (junior), Mya Miller (sophomore), and Brynn Deike (junior). “They all were close to playing varsity last year,” said Hendrickson. “Making State last year really propelled the girls’ commitment in the summer and off-season. We had a lot of girls playing golf in the summer on their own to get better. The main thing we are going to focus on is consistency. We had a few meets (last year) where we let the course and elements determine how we played. We have to do a better job at maintaining focus through the things we can’t control.”
The season opens Thursday, April 6 at the Three Elms Golf Course (2074 3 Elms Park Road, Independence) against the Independence Mustangs. The first of four home meets will be Thursday, April 13 as South Tama and Vinton-Shellsburg visit Saddleback at 4:00 p.m.
The Lady Spartan Invitational is set for Tuesday, April 25 starting at 9:00 a.m. “We have seven teams entered (Solon, Washington, West Delaware, West Branch, Williamsburg, Regina Catholic, and Benton Community) and five of those (Solon, Washington, W. Delaware, West Branch, and Williamsburg) were State Qualifiers.”
The coach thanked Saddleback Ridge for their hospitality. “Our girls have really benefited from the environment they have created. We would like to encourage people to come out and support our girls at home meets!”
Izzy Frees, a junior this season, will be in competition for the No. 5 or No. 6 spot.