After a very successful 2016 campaign, Becker boys golf hopes to reanimate that magic from one year ago and do about the same thing this year.

 

Or better.

 

Head Coach Dan Olson has 14 players vying for spots on the 9-12 teams. The numbers are a little down from previous years but that doesn’t discourage Coach Olson and his drive to build the boys golf team into a powerhouse.

 

“It was great getting to state as a team last year and we will hopefully get back there again this season,” he says.  “We missed out of a conference title by a handful of strokes, but I would rather go to state than win a conference title.”

 

Senior Jackson Fluck has been named Olson’s team captain and he was a state qualifier as a sophomore and has been on the varsity squad since seventh grade.

 

“I think that we should be able to have four (players) in top of the conference and/or win the conference and make it back to state for the second year in a row,” he said. My goal is to win conference as a team being that it is the only thing that I have yet to do in my high school career.” 

 

Olson will also be looking to get good play and leadership from junior Alex Stanz and senior Brandon Abrahamson.

 

“I expect our team to stay focused, as well as make the under classmen feel welcome,” says Abrahamson. “Speaking from multiple years of varsity experience, it helps a lot as a younger player to feel like you are part of the team and can compete at this level.”

 

“I want to see our team improve and get better as the year goes on,” says Stanz. “To help out our new players with the transition from JV to varsity, win the conference and make it to state as a team back-to-back years.  I would also like to lead by example since I am also considering playing golf at the college level.”

 

Olson passion for coaching has not diminished in the 16 or so years he’s been the team instructor. He loves being on the course with the kids, trying to help them become better golfers and better people.

 

St. Cloud Cathedral will once again be Becker’s biggest rival in conference and sections.

 

“Same broken record,” said Olson. “Cathedral will be our main competition.”

 

Olson says Cathedral has had a stranglehold on the GRC team title since the conference started.  

 

“They are also in our section and it will be a two horse race between us and them,” he says with confidence.

 

Zach Stanz and Austin Seavert are Olson’s other returning letter winners and Gavin Murphy will be starting off the season as his sixth man.  

 

“Cole Benson has looked strong in early season indoor practice,” said Olson.  “We lost Caleb (Foster) and Michael (Sogard) from last year's state team.”  

 

Jackson (Fluck) and Alex (Stanz) will battle for the one and two spots.  Zach (Stanz) and Brandon (Abrahamson) will be Olson’s next go-to scores.  

 

“If Austin and Gavin keep improving, we should have a really solid team by the time sections gets here,” he said.

 

Steve Whittaker has taken over the JV duties of Nate Doimer, who moved up to become head coach of the girls golf team.

 

“Whittaker is a master teacher and I am fortunate to have him working with the JV kids this season,” Olson said.

 

The team began the regular season Wednesday at Monticello Country Club against the Magic. Thier first home match is Monday against 17 area teams.