DARLINGTON - Two Darlington High School golfers are playing this season with unfinished business on their minds.
Seniors Kinsey Gould and Alexi Wagner made a run to sectionals last year. This season they have their sights set on making it to state.
Gould finished in a tie for 19th at the WIAA Division 2 Prairie du Chien sectional last year after shooting a 100 and Wagner tied for 27th after carding a 104. Both are aiming to break 90 in the sectional this season. La Crosse Aquinas sophomore Annie Balduzzi earned the final state berth last year with an 85.
"Alexi and Kinsey have become mentally tough golfers this season, which is something every coach looks for," Darlington first-year coach Molly Rice said. "I expect them to continue to set the bar high and be great senior leaders."
Gould earned medalist honors at the Darlington quadrangular in the season opener Aug. 12 and in a dual at Lena-Winslow. Gould is averaging a 42.5 and Wagner a 44 in nine-hole matches this season. One week later, both Gould and Wagner tied for fourth in the Ringen Invitational.
"Kinsey is a successful golfer because she puts in the time," Rice said. "She works hard when no one else is around. That is really starting to pay off for her. She's a very smart golfer and stays focused throughout the meet."
Darlington is 1-0 in dual matches and is coming off a championship after winning the Prairie du Chien Invitational. The Redbirds edged Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton for the team title by three strokes 404-407. Wagner placed third at the invitational shooting a team-best 93 and Gould took fourth (96).
"Alexi and Kinsey have had success thus far this season, and I think if they take it meet by meet, they have a shot for a good run in the playoffs this year," Rice said. "They have experience making it to sectionals last year. They can build off of that."
Darlington is expected to be in the hunt for a title in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.
"We really hope to be a front-runner in the SWAL Conference this year," Rice said. "I think we are off to a great start for that to happen. I believe the conference will come down to Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton and us. We challenge each other at every meet and we love to compete."
The Prairie School won the WIAA Division 2 state championship last year. Madison Edgewood, the state runner-up, will be a contender for the gold trophy again.
"The biggest challenge will be not to get too low or too high throughout meets and the season," Rice said. "We need to take it hole by hole and shot by shot to be successful."
Seniors Kinsey Gould and Alexi Wagner made a run to sectionals last year. This season they have their sights set on making it to state.
Gould finished in a tie for 19th at the WIAA Division 2 Prairie du Chien sectional last year after shooting a 100 and Wagner tied for 27th after carding a 104. Both are aiming to break 90 in the sectional this season. La Crosse Aquinas sophomore Annie Balduzzi earned the final state berth last year with an 85.
"Alexi and Kinsey have become mentally tough golfers this season, which is something every coach looks for," Darlington first-year coach Molly Rice said. "I expect them to continue to set the bar high and be great senior leaders."
Gould earned medalist honors at the Darlington quadrangular in the season opener Aug. 12 and in a dual at Lena-Winslow. Gould is averaging a 42.5 and Wagner a 44 in nine-hole matches this season. One week later, both Gould and Wagner tied for fourth in the Ringen Invitational.
"Kinsey is a successful golfer because she puts in the time," Rice said. "She works hard when no one else is around. That is really starting to pay off for her. She's a very smart golfer and stays focused throughout the meet."
Darlington is 1-0 in dual matches and is coming off a championship after winning the Prairie du Chien Invitational. The Redbirds edged Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton for the team title by three strokes 404-407. Wagner placed third at the invitational shooting a team-best 93 and Gould took fourth (96).
"Alexi and Kinsey have had success thus far this season, and I think if they take it meet by meet, they have a shot for a good run in the playoffs this year," Rice said. "They have experience making it to sectionals last year. They can build off of that."
Darlington is expected to be in the hunt for a title in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.
"We really hope to be a front-runner in the SWAL Conference this year," Rice said. "I think we are off to a great start for that to happen. I believe the conference will come down to Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton and us. We challenge each other at every meet and we love to compete."
The Prairie School won the WIAA Division 2 state championship last year. Madison Edgewood, the state runner-up, will be a contender for the gold trophy again.
"The biggest challenge will be not to get too low or too high throughout meets and the season," Rice said. "We need to take it hole by hole and shot by shot to be successful."
