Girls' golf preview: Osakis team is young, but talented

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There will be a different look to the Osakis girls’ golf team this season as two-time state champion Kelsey Ross, who’s been an anchor on the team since 2006, headed off for college.

“This year’s team is very young and lacks depth, but doesn’t lack talent,” said Silverstreak head coach Steve Tax. “This year’s team will be led by four veteran sophomores. Annalise Savageau, Peyton Garcia, Emily Backes and Katelyn Foster are multiple letter winners and very much battle-tested since 7th grade.

“They will be joined by freshmen Ariel Chalmers and Nicole Imdieke.”

Savageau returns after being named to the All-State girls’ golf team as a freshman. She’s also been named to the All-Central Minnesota Conference team the last two seasons and has been a part of two state tournament teams. Savageau will serve as captain this season.

Having already earned three letters in golf, Garcia was named to the All-CMC team as a freshman last year and is also a veteran of two state tournaments.

Backes already owns three letters in golf, has been part of two straight Central Minnesota Conference championship teams and has competed at state the last two seasons.

Foster has three golf letters of her own, and joined the other three sophomores as two-time conference champions and state tournament entrants.

Chalmers lettered for the Silverstreaks last season, and was part of last year’s conference championship team and fourth place state team.

Imdieke, another freshman, has provided depth for the Silverstreaks during the last two seasons, and will be part of this year’s varsity team as well.

“The girls’ golf program has had a good run the past few seasons,” said Tax. They are two-time defending Central Minnesota conference champions as well as placing third and fourth respectively in the State Class A tournament.

“The Silverstreaks are focused on winning a third straight CMC title,” he added. “They will again contend for the title with the likes of Kimball/Eden Valley-Watkins and Rockford.”

There will be a new look to Osakis’ season this year as the Silverstreaks move from Class A to Class AA, making the move from Section 5A to Section 6AA, where the competition will be stiff.

“This looks to be a very strong section with perennial powers Staples-Motley and St. Cloud Cathedral,” said Tax.

The section also includes Pequot Lakes and Becker, teams that finished fourth and sixth respectively at state last season in Class AA.

2012 OSAKIS GIRLS’ GOLF

ROSTER

SOPHOMORES – Annalise Savageau, Peyton Garcia, Emily Backes, Katelyn Foster.

FRESHMEN – Ariel Chalmers, Nicole Imdieke.

JUNIOR HIGH – Jena Backes, 7th grade; Hannah Lien, 7th grade.

Tags: osakis sports, sports, girls, golf, silverstreaks