Junior Ellie Olson competed in Stevens Point on Oct. 6 in the girls golf sectionals. She ended up placing 27th out of 48 girls. Through this new experience, Olson reflected on herself; both how she placed, how she prepared, and her plan to come back stronger next year. 

The day before the competition day, Olson got a taste of the course she would be playing on.  

“It was just very narrow fairways and small greens. It was pretty difficult,” Olson said. 

During her practice round, she carried around a small note sheet, focusing on what she was going to hit off the tee, so she could be confident with what she was going to start with. Also writing down the clubs that she was going to use on specific holes, to give her the best outcome. 

The morning of, Olson was prepared, but still a little nervous. She knew that positive self talk was going to be important. 

“I just kept telling myself it was going to be okay, I was going to be okay,” Olson said.

Last year, Olson was just a few points from making it to sectionals. Senior Captain, Callie Peterson mentioned that Olson didn’t know that she was just a couple points away from making it to sectionals, until they got in the van to go home. Knowing that Olson was so close her sophomore year, showed that Olson is better than she thinks she is. 

While Olson was playing on Monday, Peterson was checking the scoring app throughout the day. 

Olson started off strong and found her groove. But as the meet went on and the competition got better, she was feeling defeated. 

“ At the beginning I was playing well, I was keeping up. There was one girl that was doing better than me at the end, and then I just fell apart,” Olson said.

Looking back at how Olson finished, she will continue to work on her mental game. Not getting so easily frustrated at herself. Because mental games are just as important as physical games, especially when it’s an individualized sport. 

Olson demonstrates what it looks like to have a strong work ethic. 

“She’s definitely determined. If she sets a goal, she’s going to achieve it. I’d say a little bit of a perfectionist, in a good way. She definitely will work at everything,” Peterson said. “She makes everyone want to be better.”

Next year, Olson hopes to end her high school season having fun and taking it all in. As well as learning new skills to carry through her golf career, and hopefully play at a higher level in college. 

Making it to sectionals junior year is definitely an accomplishment and something to be proud of. Spartan fans can only imagine how far she will go next season.