By Emily Seeburger, Staff Reporter

Two summers ago, senior Meredith Friel discovered her love for golf. And, like most people interested in something, she wanted the fun to continue. Friel refused to let Conestoga’s lack of an official girls’ golf team stop her, so she started up a developmental team at the school.

The team’s goal is to help girls improve their golfing skills in a relaxed environment without any pressure to make the boys’ team.

“It took a lot of phone calls with [athletic director] David Grace to get the team started,” Friel said. “I remember calling and calling everyone I knew to see if they wanted to play.”

Soon, the ’Stoga girls’ golf team had finally evolved from an idea into a tangible reality. The girls managed to find a coach, all-American NCAA qualifier Laura Lladden, and scheduled some practice time at both Whitford Country Club and Downingtown Golf Club. This year, the team boasts eight players.

Girls golf is slowly becoming more competitive, playing its first ever match against Radnor later this year.

On the other end, the boys’ golf team—a more established presence at the school—has had a solid season as well, narrowly missing a third consecutive Central League title after a tough loss to Radnor. The boys said they felt a good deal of pressure heading into the game, considering the importance of the outcome as well as the skill of their opponent.

“We played one of our worst matches of the season and they played one of their best,” senior captain C.J. Van Ostenbridge said. “We were close to beating them and we should have beaten them.”

Apart from the final Radnor match, the team otherwise finished the season undefeated, and still has individual championships ahead.

“We still have [individual championships] left which is important, but I would much rather make it to states as a team” senior Peter Gerolamo said. “Playing for ’Stoga has been the most fun I’ve had playing golf to date.”