Aragon’s girls golf team remains undefeated this season with a recent win over Menlo-Atherton on Oct. 9. Aragon played away from their usual course, Poplar Creek, and faced division rival Menlo-Atherton on the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course. Junior Lindsay Block says, “We had only played there twice before, so we didn’t have much experience playing the course. It is hard to play a course you haven’t played at before as you don’t know how the thick or dry the grass is, or how fast or slow the greens are.”
As for the course, junior Caroline DiGioacchino says, “We just take the skills Coach [Guy] Oling has taught us and apply them to our playing. Coach really helps us understand the course beforehand to ensure we play the best we can.” In fact, Oling even took the team to the Palo Alto course prior to the game for a practice round.
Oling, who has been the longtime coach of the team, was awarded the 2013-14 Central Coast Section (CCS) Honor Coach on Oct. 9. The award recognizes not only the team’s extraordinary record, but also credits Oling for, as the congratulatory letter reads, “[His] accomplishment [for reaching] the ultimate in coaching.”
Block appreciates Oling’s patience, adding, “In other sports, you get in trouble if you mess up. But [Oling] is really understanding.”
With the team boasting a 15-0 record and ranking first in PAL among eight other teams, the Lady Dons seem to be virtually unstoppable, producing lower scores with a determined mindset. With the team’s last game on Oct. 17 against Burlingame, the team is looking forward to the PAL Championships on Oct. 22 and has already qualified for the CCS tournament beginning on Oct. 29. In the PAL Championships, the team looks forward to facing the defending champions, San Mateo, and reclaiming the title once again.
Oling adds, “Last year San Mateo won, and the previous year we did. And we gave San Mateo a run for it. [This year,] Aragon’s back to winning.”
