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Rylen Darter, golfer from Taylor High School. Faces off the Field, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Faces off the field gives a revealing look into the thoughts and lives of high school student-athletes in Central Texas. Today we feature Taylor freshman Rylen Darter, who won the Class 4A state golf tournament earlier this month.
All about Rylen: Winning state gold, cheering for her Steelers
What's something about you that most people don't know?
I like to rap. I am not good at it, but it’s very fun. One rapper that I listen to is NF. He is completely clean and I don’t know what it is, I just really like his music. I started to have fun rapping to his music that I’ve started to try to rap along with "Rap God" and "Godzilla" by Eminem.
Outside of golf, what's something you're really good at?
I'm good at writing. I love writing thrillers, and it’s probably the only thing I can write where you would actually enjoy. One of the best short stories that I’ve written is about this daughter who is going to college gets in a horrible wreck with her mother. The daughter expresses her knowledge of medical situations during the wreck. It’s called “When The Light Turns Green.”
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Rylen Darter, golfer from Taylor High School. Faces off the Field, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
If you were cast to be in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which dwarf would you be?
I would more than likely be Bashful. I am very shy when you first meet me and I’m often soft-spoken.
MORE:Rylee Michna of Taylor leads All-Central Texas golf team
MORE:Westlake boy and girls win state golf championships
What has been your favorite vacation?
It's when my parents and I went to Pittsburgh to watch a Steelers game. My dad got me into football and when we went to my first game in person, even though they lost. It’s one of my favorite memories with my parents.
Winning state golf in her first year of high school
You just won state as a freshman. Have you surprised yourself?
I honesty shocked myself. The first high school tournament, I stepped on that course thinking I had what it took to win state. After each tournament, I felt like I unlocked a certain key to myself that I never knew I had. The more I played, the more confident I got.
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Rylen Darter, golfer from Taylor High School. Faces off the Field, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
At 6-foot-1, you seem tall as a golfer. Is that an advantage or a disadvantage?
My height helps me generate a lot of distance, and I’m usually one of the longer hitters in the field. My dad says I’m “freaky long” for my age. I think the extra leverage from my height really helps.
MORE: Thorndale's Bethany Preusse wins two golds at state track meet
Do you have long-range golf plans?
My long-term plans for golf is to play professionally. But first I want to develop into a stronger golfer in college, and then eventually play alongside professionals like Nelly Korda.
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Rylen Darter, who was crowned champion of the Class 4A State Girls Golf Tournament this month, is only a freshman. (Rustin Darter/Photo by Rustin Darter)
Dream dinner: Megatron, meet the Golden Bear
If you could have dinner with any four people in the history of the world, who would they be?
I would pick Nelly Korda, Calvin Johnson, Jack Nicklaus and T.J. Watt.
Calvin Johnson?
His NFL nickname was Megatron and when I played flag football for Texas Fury, I would be called Megatron by my father and a coach. Since I was tall, I was nicknamed “Tree” by another coach, but my dad still likes to call me Megatron as a joke.
You're in charge of the menu. What are you serving?
A true Texan’s meal: brisket, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. I could probably argue for some green beans and corn, but we honestly can’t forget the most important part. For dessert, I’m going with peach ice cream, specifically from Fredericksburg.
— Rick Cantu
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