This season, the women’s golf team proved to be successful and really took on what it means to be a team. Through laughs, traditions and memories, women’s varsity golf was able to tie for second place with Yorba Linda High School in the Crestview League. 

Golf coach and history teacher Kevin Claborn has had a huge impact on the girls, mostly from all his success in the past. Claborn was CIF Southern Section Individual co-champion in high school and All-PAC 10 Honorable Mention while playing for UCLA. 

Claborn has been the head coach for nine years and has seen growth in many aspects of the golf team. “We have a small team, only eight players, yet we’re still super competitive. It’s actually really nice because the girls are really tight and get to know each other better. They are very supportive of one another,” said Claborn. 

“My favorite part about being the coach is interacting with the players and watching them grow as golfers and people. This sport teaches valuable life lessons and social skills. It’s a great barometer for real life. Whether we win or lose, we grow and learn important lessons through sport,” said Claborn. 

“Claborn is one of the best. He is always there to support us. He’ll stay hours later with you after practice just to make sure you get that one skill down to improve your game,” said junior and co-captain Jayden Pritchett. 

Pritchett claims that her time on the golf team has been amazing. “Our team has been closer than any other team I have ever been a part of. There are no cliques, we all just get along. We are always there for each other and there is always support.”

Part of the reason for this success was the relationships, friendships and bonds established through being a part of this team. “We succeeded this year as a team because we never gave up on one another and we always believed in each other,” said senior and co-captain Tiffany Skates. 

Skates finds that their strengths as a team are their “confidence in each other” and how they can “work hard and still have fun with each other, at the same time.” This sets this team apart from other teams because the girls are so close knit and genuinely care for each and every teammate. 

The women’s golf team qualified for CIF Team Divisionals. “We all woke up and got here at 6 in the morning. We had a fun drive out there, partying in the car, trying to get all energized. We also stopped at the donut shop which has become a tradition for us over the past couple years,” said Pritchett. 

Skates claimed she was most excited to see all the “levels of competition” going into CIF since they were competing against schools as good as Troy who are top 10 in the country.