Kirt Manion, CherryRoad Media
Start with the end in mind. That’s Nebraska City’s plan for the 2022 season as the team looks to repeat its feat of making it to the state tournament.
The Pioneers have eight players out for the team this year with top players being Ella Welsh, Grace McNeely and Isabelle Johnson. Natalie Nelson also got a lot of work for the Pioneers on the varsity side last year.
“At the top of the lineup, we have some nice experience this year,” said Coach Scott Kinnison. “It’s going to be a matter of getting Natalie comfortable playing that No. 4 spot and finding a No. 5 out of the four freshmen who came out.”
Districts will feel like a bit of déjà vu for the Pioneers. Nebraska City will host districts at Table Creek and will be completing with the likes of Norris, Beatrice and Waverly for a state qualifying spot. The Pioneers finished in the top four along with the other three squads and everyone brings back their scoring punch from last year.
Coach Kinnison said he knows the Pioneers got some playing time since last season, but that it’s hard to know how much time the players from those other teams got on the course.
“It will be fun the first couple of weeks to sew where we are at,” Kinnison said, noting that the team will then take an inventory of the results and fix problem areas quickly before the end of the season rolls around.
As far as schedule goes, Kinnison said he likes the way the Pioneer schedule lines out with an easier course to start at Seward, which allows players to build confidence, and then chances to compete at tougher courses against district competition.
Nebraska City will look forward to its home tournament, of course. And the field will be tough. Nebraska City is adding a couple teams and the tournament at Wildwood Golf Course will once again feature Elkhorn North, the defending state champions. Schedule The Nebraska City girls’ golf team will play back to back home meets on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 at Wildwood Golf Course. The first meeting will be the team’s annual home invite. The second meeting is a dual against Beatrice.
Road meets for the team this year are as follows: Aug. 23 at Beatrice; Aug. 26 at Seward, Aug. 30 for a tournament at Crooked Creek in Lincoln, Sept. 6 for a triangular at Crooked Creek in Lincoln, Sept. 8 at Bay Hills at Plattsmouth, Sept. 12 at River Wilds Golf Club at Blair, and Sept. 27 for conference at Beatrice.