The Press-Dispatch
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D-8 Fall Sports Preview Wednesday, August 15, 2018 The Press-Dispatch GIRLS' GOLF Pictured above is the 2018-19 Pike Central High School girls' golf team. They are, first row, left to right: Managers Kady Gideon and Karly Gideon. Second row: Emma Rainey, Carissa Moudy, Hadley Holder, Natalie Bohnert, Madison Warner, Nevi Lemond and Sydney Loveless. Ed Cahill photo Young Chargers hope for competitive season By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central returns All-Conference play- er and course record holder Natalie Bohnert this season along with starter Hadley Hold- er. Along with putting up low scores those two will be called on to provide leadership as well. Jarod Gideon's squad will have three play- ers on course for the first this year. He had five players who this summer de- cided to take up golf. "I asked them to come and try out this and they did. They are making a lot of im- provements," said Gideon about the girls and their golf games. Evidence that he is correct is their ear- ly season record. They won their first two matches so far over Heritage Hills and Te- cumseh. Helping is having a player like Bohnert. She currently holds the course record with a 36 she shot late last season. It broke the 39 record he held earlier." "She could have a really good year. She has the potential to be one of the better golf- ers around in southern Indiana. She has got- ten bigger and stronger. She hits it a long way," said Gideon of Bohnert. Her athletic ability is demonstrated not only by her holding the school record for lowest round of golf, but also numerous swim records and three trips to the state fi- nals in swimming. Gideon said Bohnert played in numerous junior golf tournaments in Evansville this summer helping her improve. "She has im- proved her short game a lot. Her putting is coming along and she is hitting her iron a lot better." However, Gideon said because she is so long off the tee she doesn't have to hit too many irons. "She can drive hole one and three and she can reach both par fives in two, that is a really big advantage," said Gideon. He said she is usually only hitting a seven iron into the green on hole nine on her second shot. "There have been a lot of girls who could hit it a long way, but she has accuracy along with it. That is just a big advantage for her." "She will have a lot of rounds near par." Gideon predicted she would average be- tween 36 and 39 this year at Prides Creek. Last year she earned All PAC honors with an 88 in the conference meet. She fol- lowed that up with an 84 in the sectional at Vincennes and an 89 in the regional at Country Oaks. "When she drives the ball well she will be hard to beat," said Gideon. The other returning player is Hadley Holder. She played in both the sectional and regional scoring a 104 and a 105 in the 18 hole events. Holder last year consistent- ly shot in the low 50s and had her season best a 49 versus Princeton and South Knox. Coach Gideon said Holder has the swing to score well. "Hers is more she needs a bet- ter mental approach. She is a great kid, she just needs to settle down. She gets flustered with herself, once she settles down she can shoot some great scores," said Gideon. This year's golf team will be competing with several first -year players. So it will be challenge, but so far they have compiled a 2-0 record. Madison Warner, a junior playing golf for her first year, is expected to be the num- ber three player. Warner played softball last year. "She is a good athlete and is picking golf up pretty fast," said Gideon. He add- ed Warner played a lot of golf this summer. Emma Rainey is another junior playing for the first time. Gideon has three fresh- man who recently started playing golf. Ca- rissa Moudy has played a little bit. She had her second best score. "She can play, but playing at the tournament is a little differ- ent with pressure, but she will be alright. Nevi Lemond has an advantage. She lives by the course in Jasper. "She shows prom- ise. I told the girls you are going to take your lumps this year, but time you are a senior you will improve and be good," said Gideon. Sydney Loveless is another freshman who picked up clubs for the first time this sum- mer. "These freshmen started this summer. I asked them to come try it and they did. They are making a lot of improvements," said Gideon. "We won our first two matches. There are going to be some teams we are going to struggle against. We are just trying to get the girls to be consistent," said Gideon. Gideon said Bohnert and Holder both are being good leaders and have taken the younger girls under her wings and are help- ing them out. "You don't have a to shoot 39 to be a good golfer. Just shoot low 50s and that will beat most girls. That is kind of what we are shoot- ing for this year," said Gideon. CHEERLEADERS Pictured above are the 2018-19 Pike Central High School cheerleaders. They are, first row, left to right: Abigail Sutt, Gage Reibold and Hallee Stephens. Sec- ond row: Jenna Meyer, Peyton Thorne, Caitlyn Tyree, Madyson Satterfield, Emma McKinney and Kayla Cannon. Third row: Jenna McLain, Avarie Hartke, Syd- ney Boyd, Chase Dotterweich, Haven Longest, Grace Brandle and Lexie Neese. Not pictured: Kathleen Hanebutt. Ed Cahill photo You don't have to shoot 39 to be a good golfer. Just shoot low 50s and that will beat most girls. That is kind of what we are shooting for this year." -Coach Jared Gideon