Lady Hounds have experience on links

BUILDING

Golf is getting popular. The coverage of it professionally kind of is making it cool again, and this is something they can do the rest of their lives.”

Janelle Cresswell, FMHS girls' head golf coach

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison girls golf squad is coming off an improvement year in 2023 under first-year coach Paul Wilkerson, but this year’s squad has experience, some scoring, and a new coaching squad that looks an awful lot like the girls’ wrestling coaches.
First year head coach Janelle Cresswell is working Kyle Doherty and Ryan Peters, who worked with the girls on the Lady Hounds' wrestling team. Cresswell said numbers are good for this year’s golf team and now there’s some experience. Prior to Wilkerson, the Lady Hounds played as individuals with just a couple golfers. Now, they are competing as a team.
"Last year I think they had healthy numbers and we have a lot of incoming freshmen. I think we have seven returners from last year,” Cresswell said.
 “So I think there’s some sustenance. Golf is getting popular. The coverage of it professionally kind of is making it cool again, and this is something they can do the rest of their lives.”
The Bloodhounds will look to senior Lauryn Helmick to lead scoring. Helmick was the top scorer last year.
“I believe she posted our team's best score last year and I think she just wants to build on that,” Cresswell said.
“The rest of the girls are coming and working hard and we have some freshmen who have been playing a while and taking lessons and I’m looking for them to help us get some Ws.”
She said Lucy Arevalo and Ella Wright will also be counted on to keep the Lady Hounds in meets.
Lucy Arevalo and Ella Wright come with experience. I know they hung close to some leaders (last year). We have some athletes, and these girls know what to expect.”
Cresswell said the girls had extra commitment to preseason workouts, as well, with open gyms and indoor hitting at Spirit Hollow’s Shankopotamus.
“We’ve had quite a few open gyms this year and we took them to Shankopotumus, so they’ve hit a few.”
She said golf is a good game for the girls to learn and develop confidence in themselves and build on teamwork.
“I think it’s an important sport to learn and a nice break from the regular ball sports."
She said underclassmen will need to help seal some wins and Jaycee Fullenkamp could be one of those on the score card at the end of the day.
“She’s been putting the work in and has a great attitude. She’s been at all of our meets and I really think she’s going to sneak up on some people. I’m excited for her.”
The girls' first meet is April 1 at Washington. The Lady Hounds have two home meets this year at Sheaffer and play twice at Flint Hills. They will also have matches around the conference in Fairfield, Keokuk, Washington, and Mt. Pleasant.