Little Tigers excited about new experience
By: Bob Nuse
What could be better than being on the high school golf team? It’s a chance to go out and play nine holes every afternoon, something that probably makes their players’ parents quite envious.
What could be better? How about being a member of a high school golf team that was going to get to spend five days in Hawaii?
The Princeton High School golf team will make just such a trip later this month, when they participate in the Waiakea High School tournament on the island of Hawaii. The Little Tigers leave April 16 and will spend five days there while playing a three-day tournament.
"John Curtis had been talking to the AD from their school and he mentioned the tournament to me," Princeton coach Sheryl Severence said. "I told the kids about it and they were all for doing it. I’m surprised it’s actually happening. It should be a good start to the season."
Curtis, the Princeton High athletic director, got wind of the tournament while at an athletic directors’ convention. From there, it was Severence and the players that got the ball rolling.
"I know the AD from the high school," Curtis said. "We’re both on the National Certification Committee. It just so happened that this arose. We had talked about exchanges in the past. At one point we even explored the possibility of having their football team come here. I know their baseball team goes over and plays in Japan.
"This golf tournament popped up and it just worked. It should be a quality experience for the kids. They have a nice opportunity here and we should take advantage of that."
While Curtis won’t be able to accompany Severence and the players on the trip, he’s glad that an opportunity such as this one was available to the student-athletes.
"I’m always interested in letting kids get maximum exposure," Curtis said. "A (Colonial Valley Conference) schedule is fine and gives kids a great experience. But any time we can do something along these lines, it’s an added bonus.
"Our baseball team just came back from spring training in Orlando. Last year a bulk of the wrestlers traveled to China. I encourage all the coaches to explore these opportunities if it’s rational and can fit into the educational schedule."
Princeton will play in a three-day tournament against some excellent competition. It should help the team prepare for the remainder of its CVC schedule that will be waiting upon their return.
"It’s scored just like a regular match, with the top five scores from each team counting for the team score," Severence said. "It should be a lot of fun for the kids. We’re going to be facing some of the best competition in the country, which will be a nice challenge."
"Some of our kids will golf against the best in country," Curtis added. "They will also have exposure to collegiate recruiting. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They had to raise the money, it’s not coming out of district funds. They sunk their teeth into it once they found out about the opportunity."
And they’ve managed to make those people who were already envious even more envious.