The Wakefield women’s golf team is heading into a strong season as they compete in local matches and work to shed more light on their hard work and determination. With a record of 0-1, the small but mighty team consisting of five players has put in a lot of labor to get to where they are, but their efforts, unfortunately, fall short as they often get less recognition compared to other sports.

The girls utilize the team being small as leverage to create strong connections among one another. As a tight-knit group, the girls must work together as a team, even though golf is an individual sport. Despite their achievements, the girls often struggle to find recognition because golf is a smaller sport.

Captain Arieliz Reyes is a senior who has played on the team for four years. While she is a student at North Wake College and Career Academy, Reyes does athletics through Wakefield and has always found it to be a welcoming community. Reyes speaks on the struggles the girls face as a small, underrepresented team.

“To an extent, golf is separated from many other sports since we practice off-campus and don’t have the facilities to practice on campus,” Reyes said.

Additionally, the team consists of players from all skill levels. While working together to play to the best of their abilities, it can be difficult for one to pick up a sport that others have been playing for their entire lives.

“I feel like the main challenge our team faces is the fact that we have so many beginners,” Reyes said. “Compared to other teams [such as] Heritage or Millbrook, we’re definitely at a more novice level.”

While these obstacles pose a challenge, it is nothing this team can’t handle. The team as a whole has improved in their scores and techniques but has also made lasting connections within the team and with the other women’s golf teams throughout Wake County.

Lauren Cheah is a freshman who also attends North Wake College and Career Academy but plays sports through Wakefield High School. Cheah has just recently started playing golf, and the women’s golf team has allowed her to grow both as a player and teammate.

“My teammates support me and [we] have each other’s backs,” Cheah said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be performing [the way I am] right now.”

Mia Digregorio is a sophomore and this is her first year playing golf competitively. As a new team member, the benefits of having a small team are the growth and focus that other sports may not have. While the team would like others to become interested in the sport and join the team, not all aspects of a small team are negative.

“The team was welcoming to me, and I found a lot of chances to grow throughout the season because of them,” Digregorio said.

Coach Carolyn Reitz has been coaching golf for over two decades and has seen various strengths of teams. While some may not know the women’s golf team by name, they have put in hours of work and improved to become a well-rounded and motivated team.

“I can see the future for this team,” Reitz said. “I have seen their growth, match after match after match, and I know that next year will be a whole different ball game for Wakefield golf.”

As the women’s golf team continues on this season, focusing on getting lower scores as well as attracting more attention to the underappreciated sport is a clear goal. The team is headed for success, whether that be good scores in matches or lasting connections and fond memories.

“We want to do good and be recognized for our achievements, so the desire to stand out pushes us along and creates a tighter knit team,” Reyes said.