The crowd goes silent as the Warriors step onto the course. The golf clubs in their bag shine in the hot sun. Kilynn Axelson lines up her club and takes a deep breath. Swinging her arms back, she hits the ball, continuing their winning streak for MCHS’s varsity girls golf.
On Saturday, Sep. 21, girls golf finished first place in the Mundelein Mustang Invite against 8 other teams. The girls had a team score of 370. With the competition getting heavier, the girls and their coaches have been training harder every day. Head Coach Sean Sterner has been training his team to success for the past 12 years.
“A winning team requires a great culture,” Sterner says. “The main value on our team is the word ‘together.’ We believe in supporting each other and being a great teammate no matter what. A team that cares about each other is a team that usually is successful.”
Winning competitions has always been a favorite part of being an athlete for some of the members of the team. For others like Senior Kilynn Axelson, it’s the feeling that goes along with it.
“Winning my championship was so exhilarating,” Axelson says. “All of the hard work me and my team put into ourselves to make ourselves better every day finally paid off.”
Not many people are aware of the achievements that the golf team has accomplished due to the little recognition in recent years.
“I do think we have received more recognition over the last few years,” Sterner says. “We’ve had a really good run lately. In 2022 we won the conference, in 2023 we made it as a team to Sectionals and this year our match record is 7-3.”
While earning the recognition it needed throughout the year, the golf team is also honoring the multiple seniors who have paved the way for the last 4 years on the golf course.
“The seniors have been awesome this year,” Sterner says, “I respect Emma Hertel, Kilynn Axelson and Jennifer Henry so much. This group won Conference as sophomores, made it to Sectionals as juniors and they’ve had a great season as seniors. My favorite memories are the day-to-day interactions I have with them and how close we have gotten throughout the years.”
Seniors have many lasts, unfortunately including a goodbye to the teams and sports they have played. Athletes take the time to celebrate and cherish moments with their teams.
“One thing I will miss is all of the fun things me and my team have done through the years,” Axelson says. “Like when a conference had a rain delay and we all went on the bus and played all sorts of hype music.”
As their season closes, girls golf keeps being the supportive and competitive group they are. The girls move on to their regional meet on Oct. 1 At Pinecrest.