The Cardinal girls golf team will return to the course with all four of its top varsity players this season. Senior Kelli Berns, who placed eighth in state last year, will lead a team of experienced athletes. Seniors Chelsea Glover and Sara Olesen and junior Ashley Meyer helped the team to a second place Wright County Conference finish last year and a strong subsection finish that advanced them to the Section 5A meet at Rich Springs golf course. Berns placed second at sections to advance to state competition. “We want to compete on a consistent basis,” said coach Mike Zuehlke. The key will be for the girls to turn in four strong scores at every meet. Though their numbers are up from last year – from four at the beginning of the season last year to 11 this spring – their depth is still on the thin side. Zuehlke will be looking for two more players to step up to fill the fifth and sixth varsity slots. The team’s strength is in the four girls’ confidence and experience. They are a tight knit group and have the ability to stay focused despite outside distractions. “They can think their way around a golf course,” Zuehlke said. “And all four are coming into the season expecting to do well.” Last year Berns, Glover and Meyer finished the season with All-Conference honors. Olesen earned All-Conference Honorable Mention. Olesen, Berns and Glover also made the All-Subsection team last season. “Our big goal is to advance to state,” said Zuehlke. Annandale will be gunning for Waconia, who beat them out of the conference title last year. They will be the team to beat, but it won’t be an easy task. According to Zuehlke, Waconia is returning with much of its same crew from last year. He expects Albany to put up a good fight in the subsection and New London-Spicer will be tough at the section level. The Cardinals are scheduled to jump into the season at 4:15 p.m. Monday, April 12, with an important conference meet at Waconia’s Island View golf course. They’re scheduled to host their first home meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at Southbrook Golf Club.
Zuehlke named coach
Mike Zuehlke will take over the reigns as the new head girls golf coach at Annandale High School. The fourth-grade teacher at Bendix Elementary has headed the junior high program for the last four years and has followed most of his players this year through the ranks. He also helps fellow fourth- grade teacher Brian Atkinson coach the girls varsity basketball team. “This is a great opportunity,” said Zuehlke. “I love working with high school kids and this gives me another opportunity to stay in the program.” Zuehlke is originally from Bovey, which is near the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. He has worked in the Annandale School District for the past four years and has always been a sports fan. “I have the team spirit and I love to be around athletics,” he said. “I love the relationships and camaraderie it can build.” Zuehlke will set up shop with a program that in past years has drawn as few as four players to the team. Last year the Cardinals managed to be successful – placing second in the Wright County Conference, advancing to the Section 5A meet and sending one athlete on to state – despite very minimal numbers. Zuehlke expects another good season this year, and will work to make winning a tradition at Annandale. “My hope is to build the program, to get more interest,” he said. “Last year we had only four high school girls. This year we have 11. I hope to keep the numbers consistently around 12. It would be nice to keep consistently winning and progressing through the years.” Gerry Bahe will take over the junior high program in Zuehlke’s place.
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