By Ivan Matip, Sports Writer
The men’s and women’s golf teams are ready to defend their titles this season after being named 2013 NAIA National Champions last season.
Coach Kyle Blaser and his team, which is ranked first in the NAIA men’s golf poll, is aiming for a three-peat this season.
The Stars won their first tournament of the season at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan. They did so with six new players, a few of whom are ranked in the individual top 10.
Sophomore Anthony Marchesani from Rosebud, Victoria, Australia, likes the way things look thus far for the Stars.
“It is a good start of the season for us,” he said. “We have a good group of guys and we couldn’t wish for a better start. As a team, we expect to win every week, to be honest.
“It would be nice to win the nationals again this year. To go three in a row would be great for the school.”
Blaser said he is pleased with the newcomers’ performances in the first tournament and thinks they’ll get better and more experienced as the season goes along.
But Blaser’s expectations for his team are even higher than a third national title.
“We’ve set forth academic goals for this year, we’re trying to shoot for a 3.5 GPA, above a 3.2,” Blaser said. “We’ve been lucky to have some good players coming through and setting goals and standards very high.”
The women’s golf team also won a national title last year and anticipates another great season.
Coach Marty McCauley is working with a squad that, like the men’s team, features new faces, many of whom are freshmen.
Senior Elia Folch said she is ready to step into a leadership role.
“We won the national title last year, and it was such a great feeling that we want to do it again this year,” Folch said. “Our new girls came in ready to play, and we look forward to continue to get better after each tournament.”
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