Big Red Golf Takes on Belmont Hill
Lower Angelina Gong in action. Courtesy of @exeterathletics
By JACK CASSIDY AND LAUREN LEE
As spring arrives, the golf team hits the green running with a hope- ful start to their season. Senior Jack Fallon and lower Angelina Gong lead the team. Their first match of the season was against Belmont Hill, and they lost 4-3.
Second-year captain, lower Angelina Gong explained the importance of this match. “It’s the first match that we play every single year. Belmont Hill, an all boys school, is notoriously known to be probably the best team.
Coach Bob Bailey commented, “In the past, Belmont Hill had whooped us,” Coming into Exeter’s first matchup, Belmont Hill had already played a couple of matches. They had a winning streak, having beaten the team six-to-two at last year’s match. “We were coming in a little cold,” remarked upper Michael Nardone.
Many members noted the intense effort the team put into the match. “They were determined to play better this year,” said Bailey. This determination and grit showed in the results: Angelina Gong, Michael Nardone, and Paco Sze each won two points for Exeter. “We lost by one,” Gong continued. “Which is still a loss, but we improved a lot.”
“We definitely have a strong team this year,” reflected Nardone. “But the best part about us is that we all get along really well and work well together on and off the course.” Lower Charles Dobbins expressed a similar sentiment, “We all just have a really good time. We’re focused on getting better and being prepared, but we also make sure we’re having fun and supporting each other.”
This sense of support and community is evident through how the team talks about each other.
The team is full of role models that push each to perform better and practice harder. “I definitely admire Paco Sze,” said Nardone. “He’s a super dedicated golf[er] and is always willing to help anyone with their swing.”
“I really admire Michael Nardone,” said Dobbins. “He’s a really, really, great golfer and he truly puts in the work.”
“I admire Dobbins very much. I’ll go to the golf room after practice, and four hours later, he’s still in there grinding,” said Gong. “Even though he’s a beginner and he’s never played on a golf team before, he’s gotten so much better. He puts in the effort.” In the future, the team hopes to build on this momentum and find success in their future matches. This will come hand in hand with the continuation of the development of a supportive and exciting team culture.
“I think my time on the golf team – when I look back later on in life – is gonna be one of the most cherished times. Even though the team has people from all different places, we somehow come together, and we work really well together,” Gong remarked.
Nardone concluded with words of guidance for all golfers, “Be the ball.”
