YOUNG OZARK SQUAD READY FOR STATE MEET

They’re young, talented, and in love with life. The Ozark Lady Hillbillies golf team are also pretty good citizens, too. “This is straight up (a) good group of girls,” Ozark golf coach Kendra Mainer said. “They now know what they are capable of on the golf course and know they can be successful. After this year, they have very high expectations of themselves for the next two years. I believe with those expectations, they will continue to work hard and get better with every golf swing they take.” Sophomores Gracen Criswell and Elizabeth Durning, and freshman Cheyanne Millsap and Abbey McCormick will tee off Monday at Maumelle Country Club at the state 4A meet. It’s been an amazing fall for the Lady Hillbillies, though they weren’t exactly coasting as July turned to August. While some prep golfers carry their spring and summer into the fall, Ozark’s golfers came in not knowing what to expect. “Honestly, they didn’t bring a whole lot of momentum in from the summer,” Mainer said. “They all realized they were a young team and that this year was going to be more about experience than anything — getting to know the routine of matches, competing with the other schools, and really just finding out who they were on the team and what it was all about.” Then, almost on cue, the girls took off. “Once they placed first or second in a few of our regular season matches, they started to realize they were pretty good,” Mainer said. ”(That) gave them a lot of confidence going into the district tournament.” Ozark finished first at the district tournament. “This group is very dedicated,” Mainer said. “All of them want to succeed and do the best they can, as well as put in the work they need to put in. They don’t complain about practice; they realize the pressure they have on themselves and each other. “In a way, I would say they are dedicated to each other.” In addition to Criswell, Durning, Millsap and McCormick, the Ozark squad includes sophomore Hattie Martin. “She was making some big strides in her game toward the end of the regular season, and I expect great things out of her next year if she continues working like she was,” Mainer said.

YOUNG OZARK SQUAD READY FOR STATE MEET

Photo Credit: Ozark High School Athletics

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