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Apr. 25—BEMIDJI — Reinforcements are coming for the Bemidji High School girls golf team. In the meantime, the Lumberjacks are powering their way through the early part of their 2025 season without one of their top players.
Missing senior Margie Anderson, who is recovering from an injury in the final weeks of the girls basketball season, BHS took fourth place in its home invite with a team score of 365. A second Jacks team took sixth at 390.
Junior Taylor Schulke has been carrying the torch at the top of Bemidji's card. She was the only Lumberjack to break 90 on Friday at the Bemidji Town and Country Club with an 88.
"It felt good to be out here," Schulke said. "It was a rough day, but it's beautiful out. My shots didn't go how I wanted them to most of the time. But I still had some good ones, so I'll take it."
While Schulke was unsatisfied with her score, head coach Tina Offerdahl continues to be impressed with the jump she's made from her sophomore season.
"She's handling it real well," Offerdahl said. "I think she's surprising herself with where her game is at, because she's leaps and strides from where she was last year. She was consistently in the 90s. Now she's proving that she can consistently be in the 80s. She's got a good level head on her shoulders and handles herself with grace and good leadership."
Offerdahl added that, when Anderson comes back, having two players that can set a tone for a team will be an asset she hasn't had as the BHS head coach.
"It's refreshing," Offerdahl said. "You see the kids when they start. I remember when (Schulke) was a freshman and what she could do then. I knew there was something there, she had a knack for the game. She upgraded the equipment, and you can see the difference it made.
"Now that she's seen it, I like that she's pushing those expectations higher. She expects more of herself, and she handles herself well when it doesn't go her way. But she knows she can play the game better and expects herself to play that way."
Anderson is likely to return to the lineup before the Section 8-3A Tournament.
"We hope to get her back soon," Schulke said. "It'll help us a lot when she's back. She's very talented and she's a good leader for any team."
Anderson will be joining a team that Offerdahl said was ahead of schedule.
Coming into the season, Bemidji aimed to break its best score of 353 from a year ago. The Jacks have already broken 370 thrice this season, including on Friday.
Brynn Meyer and Mickaylee Garrigan tied for 20th with scores of 92. Anika Ohnstad shot a 93 in 23rd, while Abigail Jenkins and Hallen Sanden each shot 99 (39th).
"We are definitely ahead of where I figured we'd be right now," Offerdahl said. "A few of them are seeing the improvements if they put in the extra time. Aurora (Frank) struggled for a few meets, and she put in some time after practice the last three or four days. She had a much better day today. It all correlates together, and we're seeing it."
Frank paced the second group of Lumberjacks with a 95 (27th), followed closely by Stella Schoonover's 96 (29th). Mali McLean (98, 37th), Kyla Frank (101, 44th), Ella Willford (103, 48th) and Juel Luettinger (113, 65th) rounded out the group of varsity scorers for BHS.
It was another day where Offerdahl came away thoroughly impressed with her two groups, specifically a pair of sophomores.
"Mickaylee Garrigan has come out of the gates nicely," Offerdahl said. "She was out here all summer, so that offseason summer work shows early in the season. Stella Schoonover is another one who, I won't say it's a surprise because she's such a competitive kid, but being able to execute what you want is hard. She's executing, which is a really good thing."
Offerdahl expects the inner-team competitiveness to kick up another notch when Anderson is healthy. Having options to fill out a section lineup not only increases the competition for players to be in the lineup but also gives the Jacks versatility.
"This is a game of time, dedication, persistence and want," Offerdahl said. "You have to have it. I can't give it to the kids. I have it when I'm on the course myself, but I can't make the kids have that. You can help them see the success, you can help them set and achieve goals, but they have to want it, too. If they have fun because they're successful, it'll only get better and we will get to that level as a competitive program in our section."
Team Results (Top 10)
1-Minnewaska 334; 2-Pequot Lakes 347; 3-Crookston 349; 4-Bemidji A 365; 5-Grand Rapids 377; 6-Bemidji B 390; 7-Roseau 391; 8-Fergus Falls 294; 9-Badger/Greenbush/Middle River 402; 10-East Grand Forks 403.
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Missing senior Margie Anderson, who is recovering from an injury in the final weeks of the girls basketball season, BHS took fourth place in its home invite with a team score of 365. A second Jacks team took sixth at 390.
Junior Taylor Schulke has been carrying the torch at the top of Bemidji's card. She was the only Lumberjack to break 90 on Friday at the Bemidji Town and Country Club with an 88.
"It felt good to be out here," Schulke said. "It was a rough day, but it's beautiful out. My shots didn't go how I wanted them to most of the time. But I still had some good ones, so I'll take it."
While Schulke was unsatisfied with her score, head coach Tina Offerdahl continues to be impressed with the jump she's made from her sophomore season.
"She's handling it real well," Offerdahl said. "I think she's surprising herself with where her game is at, because she's leaps and strides from where she was last year. She was consistently in the 90s. Now she's proving that she can consistently be in the 80s. She's got a good level head on her shoulders and handles herself with grace and good leadership."
Offerdahl added that, when Anderson comes back, having two players that can set a tone for a team will be an asset she hasn't had as the BHS head coach.
"It's refreshing," Offerdahl said. "You see the kids when they start. I remember when (Schulke) was a freshman and what she could do then. I knew there was something there, she had a knack for the game. She upgraded the equipment, and you can see the difference it made.
"Now that she's seen it, I like that she's pushing those expectations higher. She expects more of herself, and she handles herself well when it doesn't go her way. But she knows she can play the game better and expects herself to play that way."
Anderson is likely to return to the lineup before the Section 8-3A Tournament.
"We hope to get her back soon," Schulke said. "It'll help us a lot when she's back. She's very talented and she's a good leader for any team."
Anderson will be joining a team that Offerdahl said was ahead of schedule.
Coming into the season, Bemidji aimed to break its best score of 353 from a year ago. The Jacks have already broken 370 thrice this season, including on Friday.
Brynn Meyer and Mickaylee Garrigan tied for 20th with scores of 92. Anika Ohnstad shot a 93 in 23rd, while Abigail Jenkins and Hallen Sanden each shot 99 (39th).
"We are definitely ahead of where I figured we'd be right now," Offerdahl said. "A few of them are seeing the improvements if they put in the extra time. Aurora (Frank) struggled for a few meets, and she put in some time after practice the last three or four days. She had a much better day today. It all correlates together, and we're seeing it."
Frank paced the second group of Lumberjacks with a 95 (27th), followed closely by Stella Schoonover's 96 (29th). Mali McLean (98, 37th), Kyla Frank (101, 44th), Ella Willford (103, 48th) and Juel Luettinger (113, 65th) rounded out the group of varsity scorers for BHS.
It was another day where Offerdahl came away thoroughly impressed with her two groups, specifically a pair of sophomores.
"Mickaylee Garrigan has come out of the gates nicely," Offerdahl said. "She was out here all summer, so that offseason summer work shows early in the season. Stella Schoonover is another one who, I won't say it's a surprise because she's such a competitive kid, but being able to execute what you want is hard. She's executing, which is a really good thing."
Offerdahl expects the inner-team competitiveness to kick up another notch when Anderson is healthy. Having options to fill out a section lineup not only increases the competition for players to be in the lineup but also gives the Jacks versatility.
"This is a game of time, dedication, persistence and want," Offerdahl said. "You have to have it. I can't give it to the kids. I have it when I'm on the course myself, but I can't make the kids have that. You can help them see the success, you can help them set and achieve goals, but they have to want it, too. If they have fun because they're successful, it'll only get better and we will get to that level as a competitive program in our section."
Team Results (Top 10)
1-Minnewaska 334; 2-Pequot Lakes 347; 3-Crookston 349; 4-Bemidji A 365; 5-Grand Rapids 377; 6-Bemidji B 390; 7-Roseau 391; 8-Fergus Falls 294; 9-Badger/Greenbush/Middle River 402; 10-East Grand Forks 403.
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