Since the Steinbrenner’s opening, Mark Mann has coached the girls golf team. Though golf is one of the centers of his life now, this wasn’t always the case when he was growing up.
Mann first picked up golf when he was around 16 years old, and would play periodically as he got older. Then when he entered the military, his friends and he would play together. Mann was able to get a job coaching Sickles girls team for a short time, before moving to Steinbrenner.
“The fact that golf is an individual sport is what I love the most about it,” said Mann. “That way you can’t blame teammates when things go wrong. If you make a bad shot, it’s pretty much all on you.”
The biggest thing about golf to Mann is that its very rewarding. He loves the feeling of making a good shot or getting a good score at the end of a match. However, he isn’t really a fan of the hot weather, or the day that he’s struggling, that comes sometimes with playing the sport.
Mann loves to see his girls uphold the integrity and honestly that comes with playing golf. He always stresses to the girls that they have fun and try their best at every hole. This year especially has done a great job at doing this and upholding the tradition of success they’ve had in the past.
“Overall, I think this is probably the best team, not only competitively, but also with the camaraderie and keeping it together as a group,” said Mann.
The team has upheld a high win to loss ratio since the school’s opening; they’ve only lost a few matches over all five years. And along with the great team relationships, the girls’ parents have a great relationship that make the whole atmosphere a good competing environment. As for districts and regionals, the team has made it and placed in almost every one, finishing their season by placing 6th at the 3A State Finals.
For any athlete, Mann insists that they practice hard, listen to coaches, do their best, and most importantly, have fun.
Emily Goldbach / Opinion Editor
