The Park Hill girls golf team has set lofty goals for the 2025 season.
They aim to qualify for state as a team, which would be a first under the watch of head coach Rebecca Hart. In her sixth season in charge, Hart sees camaraderie throughout the entire program that allows everyone to flourish.
“They are a tight-knit group of girls,” Hart said. “They are very comfortable with each other and they are pretty serious about what they want to accomplish this year.”
The Trojans return two state qualifiers from last year, including senior Makenna Kincheloe. The three-time state qualifier has steadily improved her scores throughout her career, earning her first all-state medal last fall by finishing 14th with a score of 163 following both days.
Kincheloe returns as a senior leader alongside Park Hill’s other returning state qualifier, Ruby Bell, who made the top 40 of 90 qualifiers in her state tournament debut last year. The senior duo will provide the experience for some younger talent that will also step into the lineup and be difference-makers, which includes a freshman who will start on varsity.
In a preseason survey, Hart noted that each player mentioned the close-knit culture of the team. That collegiality is what will help them develop and thrive throughout this season.
“They are like a little clan,” Hart said. "They’re kind of chummy with each other. There is no sense of a social system. They treat each other in an equitable manner.”
Hart added assistant coach Kate Padberg to the staff this year. They would like to see all their senior golfers qualify for the state tournament, which would also increase their chances of winning a district title and qualifying as a team for state.