Berit Haldorsen got a taste of success. Now, she wants more. 

The junior, one of two All-Apollo golfers for Mattoon High last season, joins sophomore Blair Powers to lead a team that finished third at the Apollo Conference last season. 

With the entire varsity team returning, Haldorsen thinks Mattoon is ready to take the next step. 

“This will be very beneficial as we compete in all our matches, but especially in Apollo and Regionals, because everyone has the experience, understands what to do, and we have all been together as a team before,” said Haldorsen. “It will also help us as we teach the new golfers to be able to send them out with our returning girls and have confidence that they can learn. I’m very excited to see what happens this year.”

Haldorsen placed sixth at the conference match, while Powers placed fourth. With a few openings at the top, she is hopeful that Mattoon can move up the standings. 

That includes making a run at the sectional. 

In the end, it all comes back to the experience the team brings back after going through a year of growing pains. With that said, the Green Wave appears to have a different mentality going into this season. 

“I hope to place at conference,” said Haldorsen. “It would also be amazing if our team could place in Apollo and even win. I think that with so many of our girls returning we can win more matches, go on to Sectionals, and, hopefully, win Apollo.”