The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1476385
C-8 Fall Sports Preview Tuesday, August 16, 2022 South Gibson Star-Times Golf girls look to extend PAC title string By Andy Heuring Star-Times Sports sports@sgstartimes.com Gibson Southern's girls golf team has won the Pocket Athletic Conference Champi- onship eight straight years. Those championships have spanned three different coaches and it is hopeful it will reach into the next coach - ing era. Kirsten Harpenau is the new Lady Titan coach. A for- mer Lady Titan player, she takes over the reigns from Al Lentz, who retired after last season. Harpenau said she used to golf with Lentz and he called her earlier this year and said 'Hey, I have a gig for you." She said it took some con - vincing. "I was a little appre- hensive at first, but I'm glad I did it. I'm really enjoying it," said Harpenau. She also got her dad, Mick, to be her assistant. "He is the one who showed me how to golf. I'm lucky and apprecia - tive he is my assistant. He is good at picking out what is going on with the girls' swings and he can explain it in words they understand," said Harpenau of her father. Car y Maurer also helps out with the team. Harpenau said she had only seen the girls for a few practices, but she sees lots of potential. Madilyn Sperling, who placed in the top 10 last year in the 13-team conference championship, has been hard at work during the offseason on her golf game. "She has been playing in the Evansville Junior Golf Association tour - nament. She has a beautiful swing and I'm excited to see what she does with it," said Coach Harpenau. Sperling played well enough in the summer that St. Mar y's of the Woods has signed her to play for them in college. Fellow senior Vanessa Schmitt was the other Titan who placed in the top 10 in the conference and earned All Conference honors. "She is ver y bubbly. She keeps a good head on her shoulders." The other senior is Amelia Robinson. "She has a lot of fun playing the game. They all stay ver y calm. It is ver y rare," said Harpenau. Sophomore Haley Hughes has played a lot of off-season golf and competed in tour - naments this summer. "I see her working her way up in the lineup," said Harpenau. Harpenau also likes what she sees in Claire Wisnoski's swing. "She has a good swing and is playing well." Olivia Alston is the team's only freshman. "She can hit it a long way. She needs confi - dence, but shows a lot of po- tential. She puts in the work to fix the things in her swing. It is refreshing to have some- one like her who is so eager to learn and do right and en- joy it," said Harpenau. "They all show great poten- tial. There isn't one of them who I think can't make it into the top five," said Harpenau. Harpenau said she is grate - ful to have Maurer and her dad as assistant coaches. "I can separate the girls out in different groups and have a coach with all of them. Harpenau hasn't seen oth - er teams yet, so she doesn't really know how the Lady Titans compare, but said, "I have been told by a few peo - ple we have a good chance to make it pretty far. I'm just keeping an open mind. I'm super-new at this. I would love for them to go to the state. I hope we enjoy our season. I hope to help them learn the game and love the game. It is a spor t you can always do. If they can learn it and be able to keep playing and enjoying it, that would be an accomplishment," said Harpenau.. The 2022 Gibson Southern girls golf team members are, front row (l to r): Haley Hughes, Olivia Alston, Claire Wisnoski, Vanessa Schmitt, Katelyn Walker and Madi- lyn Sperling; back row: Coach Kristen Harpenau, Vayla Reese, Aubrey Davis, Mallory Maurer, Audryana Redden, Madison Hamilton, Amelia Robinson and Coach Cary Maurer. Not pictured: Coach Mick Harpenau. 2022 GIRLS GOLF ❚ Thursday, Aug. 18 — Mt. Carmel /Mt. Vernon — 4:30 p.m. at Mt. Carmel (IL) ❚ Saturday, Aug. 20 — Wildcat Invite — 11:30 a.m. at Buffalo Trace Golf Course ❚ Monday, Aug. 22 — Triangular (Mater Dei, Evansville North) — 4:30 p.m. at Cambridge Golf Course ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 23 — Quad (North Posey/ Pike Central/Tecumseh) — 4:30 p.m. at Cambridge Golf Course ❚ Monday, Aug. 29 — Triangular (Castle, Reitz) — 4:30 p.m. at Cambridge Golf Course ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 30 — Vincennes Rivet — 4:30 p.m. at Country Club of Old Vincennes ❚ Saturday, Sept. 3 — PAC Championship — TBD at Country Oaks Golf Course ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 6 — Evansville Central — 4:30 p.m. at Cambridge Golf Course ❚ Thursday, Sept. 8 — Forest Park — 4:30 p.m. at Cambridge Golf Course ❚ Monday, Sept. 12 — Jasper — 4:15 p.m. at Jasper Municipal Golf Course Madilyn Sperling Amelia Robinson Haley Hughes