By Andy Hutchison

Staples girls golf is ready to take to the courses, tee off and battle the competition on the greens and fairways.

Captains are seniors Katelynn Mitchell and Riley Sklar along with junior Eliza Wadley. Returning varsity starters are juniors Lucy Hill and Ryan McGrath. Freshman Lillian Hallett rounds out the varsity line up for the first match, Tuesday at Darien at Wee Burn Country Club, beginning at 3 p.m.

Eight other girls are looking to break into the varsity lineup in the 16-match season.

“With five returning varsity starters out of six players in a match, we have a very promising season. If we can have most of our players click on the same day, we will be fine when it comes to wins and losses,” Coach Patty Kondub said.

“Qualifying for FCIACs and States are always our goals, but most importantly we strive to make the golf team a highlight and the most positive experience at Staples for our student-athletes,” the coach added.

The Wreckers will look to be a challenge to every team they face in the tough FCIAC.

“All the other teams are competitive. We cannot take any match for granted,” Kondub said.

Staples again has the largest team in the state, with 46 combined varsity and JV golfers. JV Coach Maureen Fontana commented: “This season, the Staples girls JV golf team is proud to field a record-breaking 32 players, the largest JV roster in school history. With so much enthusiasm and talent, we’re excited to begin our season with our first match against Fairfield Ludlowe.” That match will take place on April 22 at Longshore Golf Course, 3 p.m.

Andy Hutchison

^{_{Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories, since the 1990s. He is the sports editor at the Newtown Bee. He writes for the Monroe Sun. He was director of communications and radio color commentator for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (now Islanders) hockey team. He has won numerous writing awards, including regional and national first-place honors.}}