LAST SEASON: The Rockets had a very interesting season. They won the GMAA County Tournament for the second straight year. They finished in third place in the O-K Green conference behind powerful Caledonia and Byron Center. In regionals they finished in fifth place in the team standings and missed qualifying for the state finals by 12 strokes. They made headlines at regionals when their two top golfers, Sophia McCollum and Rowan Bluhm, tied for sixth place in the individual standings, the final spot to qualify for the state finals. They had to have a playoff against each other, and McCollum edged out Bluhm.
Sophia McCollum
BACK IN THE LINEUP FROM LAST YEAR: The Rockets are excited about the return of McCollum, a junior who has already earned All-Conference honors twice and was honorable mention All-State last season. She won the individual championship at the county tournament last year and finished in the top 10 in 10 of 13 events. McCollum qualified for the state finals and finished 17th out of a field of 108. The other two main golfers back from last year are junior Olivia Ambler, a third-year varsity player who finished eighth in the county tournament last year, and junior Ella Voorhies, a second-year varsity player who had one top 10 finish last season. McCollum, Ambler and Voorhies should give the Rockets a very solid top three to build on.
Olivia Ambler
OTHER RETURNERS: The top four player scores count in high school team events, and the Rockets will be searching for that solid No. 4. There are a number of candidates. Senior Ava Gibbs is starting her third year in the program and played junior varsity for most of the past two seasons. Senior Keeley Cole begins her second year in the program and played at the JV level last year. Senior Jaylnn Acre is in her third year in the program and has also played primarily at the JV level. Sophomore Madigan Pitcher has one year of high school golf under her belt and got into one varsity event last year.
Ella Voorhies
SEASON OPENER: The Rockets will open their season on Friday, competing in the Sydney Carfine Memorial Tournament at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University.
COACH QUOTE: “With three of my top four returning, I am looking forward to the season. We are looking for a few of the girls that have played mostly JV to really step up this year. If that happens, that will put us in a position to have a really good year. Our league should be really good again. I like to put us in tough events throughout the season. I love challenging the team. That has been our formula for success.”
