Foothill Girls Golf Preview: Experienced Team Aims for State Tournament

School:  Foothill 

Sport: Girls golf

Coach: John Taylor

2009 record: 12-0

Key returners: Lauren Woolley, Kortnie Maxoutopoulis

Quote: "Our main goal is to go to state as a full team.  From there enjoy the experience and see what we can do because our team is I'd say the best it can be right now." — Kortnie Maxoutopoulis

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The Foothill High School girls golf squad has one major goal as a team: to qualify for the state tournament.

The team is primed and ready to have an even better season than its undefeated regular season from a year ago.

Returning its full squad from last season, senior team captain Kortnie Maxoutopoulis said, the team is the best it can be this year and is substantially better than the younger, less experienced team from last year.

"Our main goal is to go to state as a full team," Maxoutopoulis said.  "From there enjoy the experience and see what we can do because our team is I'd say is the best it can be right now."

Lauren Woolley said everyone on the team has improved their personal game from last season and said going to state should be obtainable.

Maxoutopoulis agreed.

"A lot of our key girls, who are in the four, five and six holes have improved greatly on their game," Maxoutopoulis said.  "That's key because usually the end spots in girls golf aren't solid, but with our team we've improved a lot in those spots."

The team credits some of its success to their home course Castlewood. 

"They have been more than accommodating to our team and our schedule," said coach John Taylor. "They really make the team feel welcome and allow us to be prepared for the season."

This year the team will use ball markers with the number 212 on it. 

This is a tribute to their new team motto of putting in the effort to get the extra degree.

"Water doesn't boil at 211 degrees, but it does at 212," assistant coach Marti Williams said. "So the idea is that it only takes one degree, that little bit of extra effort to make the water boil."

Woolley looks forward to playing Amador Valley High School during the season.

"Not only are they our rivals, but it will also probably be our most competitive match," Woolley said.

The team realizes that if they are to achieve their goal, of making it to state, they are in for a long season, but has already developed tactics of taking the season in stride. 

 "This season we're going to take it one match at a time," Maxoutopoulis said. "One stroke at a time, and we can make it to state."

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