Athlete of the Week: Kyle Alexander

Kyle Alexander has always been a natural golfer. Golf is one of the tough- est sports to pick up, yet Alexander, after starting only five years ago back in his hometown in Maine, has excelled from the start. Alexander started playing com- petitively a year after he started and has loved it ever since. Coming in as a new upper last year, Alexander earned the title of MVP on the golf team and is the team’s captain this year.“I started playing because my friend took me out one day and I loved it,” Alexander said. “I've been told I have a natural golf swing from hockey and that's why I never really struggled. Many people struggle for years after starting because it's such a weird concept, but I picked up on it well and went from there.”With his fluid natural swing, unlike many other competitive golfers Alexander has never even really had to take many golf lessons.However, that is not to say Alexander doesn’t play a lot; in fact, he practices almost every day in the summer. Practice is what has made Alexander such a good player. Most of the time he enjoys the sport with his friends, but he also goes out by himself to touch up and perfect aspects ofhis game.Over the years, Alexan-der has participated in many tournaments and improved his game. He played in some of the MSGA summer events, which is a Maine-based sum- mer tour. This summer, Alex- ander plans on playing on the PGA Junior Elite tour along with his local course’s club championship. Assuredly, he will impress.Last year’s golf sea-son wasn’t as successful ashoped, as the varsity team ended with a 6-6-1 record. But this year, Alexander, as this year’s captain, hopes to lead Exeter to a winning season. “We’re looking forward to a strong season this year. We struggled last year, but we have a collection of new players that will be able to step up and compete at the varsity level,” said Alex- ander.Coach Bob Bailey has nothing but great things to say about Alexander, espe- cially as a role model and leader. “He and Paul [Lei] have been very good captains, helping the younger kids on the team learn the ropes. His dedication for golf rubs off on everyone. Kyle is a quiet leader, but leads by example, he is always workinghard at practice and in the gym, always giving 100%,” he said.Bailey also commented on Alexan- der’s fine technical skills. “His ball strik- ing is very good, giving himself a chance for good scores every round. Kyle was an important member of the team last year, winning MVP honors, being a new upper that was quite an accomplishment.”Alexander said that his favorite part of the sport is its individual aspect. “Ev- eryone is responsible for making sure his or her own game is where it should be. Any mistakes or shortcomings fall on my shoulders. It’s easy for me to focus on my game and work on improving it when [our] coach gives us this freedom,” he said.Other than golf, Alexander also enjoys playing in team sports. He plays hockey here at Exeter and played baseball at his old high school where golf was not a spring sport. He still plays baseball in the summer as a hobby. Alexander’s favorite sport is hockey, and he has as much as an impact on the hockey team as he does on the golf team. He has played hockey since he was three years old and has loved every aspect of the sport since then.Senior Austin Fruchter, a fellow mem- ber of the varsity hockey team said, “He’s a very hard worker. He is extremely team oriented and always puts the team before himself.”Outside of athletics, Alexander has an impact on the Exeter community as well. He participates in the Tutoring for Children program every Thursday night, an ESSO club dedicated to tutoring children in the Exeter area, and is a proud member of the American Culture Club.Golf is in Alexander’s plan for college and the next few years. Although he would like to go to a college where he can play hockey, he would also like to join the golf team at college.Wherever he ends up next year, Alex- ander will make as great of an impression as he did here, and Exeter will miss his dedication and presence.