After a decent 2016 season on the golf course, the Niles West Boys Golf team is more than excited to get started in their fresh 2017 season. The golfers have been training vigorously to get back in the groove and to hopefully extend their season longer than last year.

The golfers have been reflecting on last year’s season to give them motivation and the drive they need to become more successful. Looking back on the 2016 season, junior and varsity golfer Evan Han is confident that this season will be much better.

“I feel a majority of the team did well [last year]. We probably could’ve done better, obviously. But this year, we’re feeling more confident with everything,” Han said.

A prime motivator this season is the fact that the varsity team has some very young players. The team consists of just one senior, three juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen. One of the young varsity players is freshman Kyle Gibson. Being a golfer since he was eight years old, Gibson cannot wait to tee-off in his first varsity season.

“Honestly, it’s a little scary, but it is mind-blowing that we play other schools that have mainly seniors on their team, so they’re four skill-years ahead of me. But it’s so fun. I mean, golf everyday? How can you go wrong?,” Gibson said.

Gibson has very strong expectations for the team this season, and he believes that even though they won’t always be together on the course, the team should stick together and motivate one another.

“I think we all need to work hard, but have a fun time as well. After all, we are a team, and we need everyone to do their best and have confidence in each other,” Gibson said.

However, with young, fresh players on the team, that means that some of the past, excellent senior golfers are no longer on the team. Will Peiser, the younger brother of sectional golfer, and recent Niles West graduate Jake Peiser, looks at his brother as a role model and knows he has confidence in the team.

“My brother, Jake, was the one who got me into golf. I know we lost a bunch of good seniors, but we still really are a solid team. Jake definitely knows the team will be good,” Peiser said.

With young, eager golfers, and a burning passion to extend their season longer than last year’s, the Niles West boys golf team is pumped to kick this season off. The 2016 season may not have ended the way that they wanted it to, but their confidence in each other and their dedication to hard work will drive them right onto the green in the 2017 season.

The boys’ next match is scheduled for Thursday, August 24 at the Highland Park Country Club.