Head Coach Dan Olson is entering his 20th year as part of the Becker boys golf team. Seventeen of those years have been served as head coach and this year he has 14 kids in the 9-12 grades and 10 in the middle school program.

 

Returning this year is Olson’s assistant, Nate Doimer and Steve Whittaker takes over as the school’s JV coach.

 

Olson said his team is now moving from Class AA to Class AAA for 2018, making the level of play at sections that much more difficult. Some of the teams they could meet up with in sections include, Moorhead, Alexandria, Brainerd, Bemidji and Buffalo.

 

“I really enjoy coaching,” said Olson. “Especially the interaction with the kids and helping them improve.”

 

Olson expects his squad to finish no lower than second place in the Granite Ridge Conference and even compete for the conference title with perennial powerhouse St. Cloud Cathedral.

 

“I have no clue what Cathedral will look like, but they always seem to reload,” he says.

 

With the second week of April already under their belts, the season start for Olson’s club gets pushed farther and farther away due to inclement weather. So far, the team has only been able to swat the ball around inside the wrestling room while waiting for Mother Nature to clear the snow and warm the air.

 

“We will be lucky if we are outside by the end of the third week of April,” Olson says.  “If that holds true, we will miss two invites and two conference meets.”

 

So hitting off mats and plastic tees looks to be part of the future of this year’s team.

 

“For now, we are hitting inside(the wrestling room) for one and a half hours each day,” he said. 

 

Coach Olson remembers back when he first started in the high school golf program and realizes he has learned a lot through the years.

 

“Patience and not showing emotions on the course,” he says are what he has learned over the years.

 

“When I was younger, I was much more emotional and I believe that it had a negative impact on my players.” 

 

Olson said back in the day, coaches weren’t even allowed to coach on the course at that time.  

 

“Now, I do my best to help my kids and not show a lot of emotions on the course,” he said. 

 

Olson’s team is comprised of seniors Alex Stanz, Cole Benson and Lucas Dertinger and juniors Austin Seavert and Gavin Murphy. Freshman Zach Stanz completes the squad.

 

“Alex Stanz, Zach Stanz and Austin Seavert will be my top three players,” said Olson. “Gavin Murphy, Cole Benson, Luke Dertinger and Jimmy Braun will round out the rest of the team for the start of the season.”  

 

Under the tutelage of Whittaker, Olson is keeping his eye on a couple prospects who could make an impact sooner rather than later.

 

“I have a few freshmen that have looking good inside and I am hoping that their form holds true when we finally get outside as well,” he said.