Taylor Huschka and Tanna Tyler were named Most Outstanding Golfers at the Sweet Home golf teams’ awards dessert last week.
Huschka, a senior, led the Huskies to their first district title ever and their first-ever berth in the state tournament.
Sophomore Jake Riggs was named Most Improved for the boys. In addition to Huschka and Riggs, varsity letters went to Travis Ramoz, Nick Zahler and Markus Thedford.
The girls team finished the season with three players, all of whom got letters: Tyler, Haley Voldbeck and Savana McCalister. No girls Most Improved award was given this year.
Coach Tom Horn told the audience at the event that this season was a breakthrough for the Husky boys.
Horn said he had the largest turnout of boys since he took over as golf coach in 1995, so many, in fact, that he had to trim the roster to from 19 to 13.
“In football I can coach 20 guys in a drill easily,” he said, acknowledging the help he got from assistants Craig Wilson and Kendra McCaslin. “In golf you have a different situation. One person can’t coach 20.”
Horn thanked Mallard Creek Golf Course for its “huge service” to the Huskies’ success, namely “thousands of dollars” worth of tee times and range fees for the team. He urged fans to return the favor by eating at the course restaurant or playing some golf at the course.
Horn said he hopes that the success of this year will result in an improved program in the future and he urged the returning players to spend time on the course this summer.
“We’re in a situation where our golf team has been pounded,” he said of the Huskies’ past seasons. “We’re seventh out of seven, eighth out of eighth. I hated that.
“That’s where I want the guys who were JV players this year to take us. We’re not at the level of Phoenix or Marist yet, but we can get there.
“Our goal is to remain viable in the Val-Co League.”
On the girls side, Horn said he hopes to have six or eight girls next season, which would make the Huskies more competitive.
He said he expects Tyler, who will be a junior, to be a leader for Sweet Home.
“I thought Tanna was one of the top 10 golfers in the district this year,” he said.