Matadors prepare for competition with a new team base and league.
Undergoing its most popular year since its inception in 2010, the MVHS girls golf team is off to a strong start with at least 10 members on the roster, six of them freshmen.
“I’m excited and also anxious,” freshman Sruthi Ramabadran said. “I know people who are really good and who have been playing for two years, and I want to get better with my drivers. I want to do well in the tournaments and contribute to the team and help the team win.”
[slickr-flickr type=”gallery” thumbnail_size=”small” thumbnail_scale=”60″ search=”sets” set=”72157635343005640″ items=”8″] The MVHS girls golf team did not qualify for CCS in the 2012 season, although three members of last year’s team seeded in the top 50 of in the Blossom Valley Athletic League to qualify for the league tournament. Two of them, senior Natalie Ng and sophomore Anika Singh, have returned to continue to build the base for this year’s season, while the team’s highest scorer and captain last season Priyanka Singh will return to advise the team before leaving for college in mid September.Head coach Brian Sullivan hopes that this year will be the start of MVHS’ full-fledged team, with a strong member base complete with team bags and new shirts.
“I think we’re going to be competitive,” Sullivan said. “Palo Alto and Gunn are a step above us, but we can compete with the others. I think this is my most experienced team: Even my freshmen have a little experience.”
Starting this year, the Matadors will face a rule and league change. Instead of allowing players to pick up and putt the ball if they are not on the green by six strokes, players are now limited to 10 total shots. Additionally, MVHS is no longer in the Blossom Valley League and will be competing in the newly formed Santa Clara Valley League with Lynbrook High School, Saratoga High School, Los Gatos High School, Homestead High School, Wilcox High School, Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School. The team winner of the league tournament and teams or individuals that score under a certain limit will receive an automatic qualification to the Oct. 29 CCS tournament.
“I think all of us just want to experience golf,” senior Natalie Ng said. “It’s a fun way to play, just go out and meet players from other schools. If we win, that’d just be extra.”
The Matadors will play against LHS in their first match of the season on Sept. 5.
