A new head coach and a small-sized team are a few of the challenges the girls golf team faces heading into the 2018 season.

 

Anna Babler takes over for Nate Doimer, who returns to assistant coach for the boys and girls teams. Babler was the junior high golf coach for four years and played golf at Becker High School from seventh grade through her senior season. She graduated in 2001.

 

“So far the start of the season is going well,” she says, despite the unruly Minnesota weather.

 

“It is a tough spring with the cold and snowy weather, but we have been practicing indoors and we were able to head to Iowa last weekend to get the kids out to play 27 holes.”

 

Babler has four girls on her varsity squad and four on the junior high team. With four girls the minimum requirement to compete at meets, Babler will be counting on Emma Benson, Hannah Garcia, Gretchen Graftaas and Kylee Rick to compete each and every week against some tough foes.

 

 “We are going to be missing our first few events of the season for sure, which is unfortunate,” Babler says.  “After the recent snow and the extended forecast of freezing temps, we will be lucky to be out on the course by the third week in April.  For now, we are doing what we can indoors.”

 

Garcia and Graftaas look to be the team’s leaders this year as they have the most extended playing experience. Garcia, a junior has been named team captain after making state last year along with freshman Graftaas. Garcia made it to state by capturing sixth place at sections with a two-day total of 185.

 

Garcia finished in 41st place at the state tournament in Jordan.

 

Becker’s biggest rival year-in and year-out when it comes to girls golf is the girls from St. Cloud Cathedral. Babler expects things to be the same in 2018.

 

“ I do think that Cathedral and Milaca will be a challenge for us,” she says. “Since I am new to the team, I have not had the chance to really check out the competition.”

 

Babler is a kindergarten teacher at Becker Primary School. She is married and has two kids.