One step up on the ladder. That is mentality and could even be a motto of the Knoxville Boys Golf Squad this season. The Panthers return four of the players that came back with a runner-up finish at the class 3A State Meet last year and are looking to bring back the golden trophy after earning silver last season. Evan Smith, Carson Uitermarkt, Noah Keefer, and Brady Roozeboom all return. However the Panthers did lose Beau Leisure and all-stater last season Kail Arkema, who placed 7th individually at State. This season Coach Barry Smith has referenced the one step higher on the ladder for his boys squad. While he does not want to get ahead of himself, like last season, this could be a very special finish to the spring.

Smith: “It’s every team’s goal when they start the season. This is a very special group of boys, and it would not surprise me to see them up there when they bring back hardware to be the top dog in the state.”

Smith adds enough depth to the team this year that he can schedule a good sized JV season and give those players a chance to play at area courses in a meet atmosphere to prepare them for their varsity spots.

The boys are not the only ones with state dreams. The girls will again be led by Faith Roozeboom, who has been close to a State Meet berth the last couple of seasons, but has fallen short. The Panther senior has goals of getting to the State Meet this season. Her nine hole average last season, according to Bound, was 47.5 while her 18 hole average was 93.5. Barry Smith also coaches the girls squad and tells KNIA/KRLS Sports along with Roozeboom he has several returners he will depend on.

Smith: “I have four other golfers that play for me including my daughter Caelie, she became our number two golfer and she really worked on her game. We also have Braylee Mason, a senior, Iselyn Prevo, and she’s a dual sport athlete but she really hit the ball off the tee and we have Hannah Burkhart, and she’s in her third year with the team, and then a freshman Brilynn McMillen.”

Both teams were supposed to have started their season this past Tuesday, but inclement weather rescheduled those events to April 12th. Both teams next chance to get the season started will be Tuesday as they will head to Osceola for a couple of triangular against Clarke and Carlisle.