By Kyle LoJacono
The Steinbrenner girls golf team has accomplished nearly the impossible the last two years.
The Warriors (12-0) have recorded 23 straight victories, dominating one of the most difficult and frustrating games ever created.
“It’s very rewarding to see all the hard work from the girls pay off,” said Mark Mann, the only coach in the program’s four-year history. “They worked hard to keep the perfect regular season intact. They strived for it from the start.”
Steinbrenner completed its second straight perfect regular season with a 173-216 win at Wharton’s (5-5) home course, Hunter’s Green Country Club in New Tampa, the same place the Warriors last lost.
The winning streak started with the final match of the 2010 regular season, meaning the squad’s four sophomores and one freshman have never suffered a loss in high school.
“The team has been really close; our bond has been really big,” said sophomore Claire Becker. “To be undefeated on top of that makes it even sweeter.”
Marlena Gumpher, Steinbrenner’s only senior, said the squad’s closeness mixed with its personalities is a big reason why they’ve been able to continue winning.
“The chemistry and everyone’s personality fits together so well,” Gumpher said. “It’s perfect. It goes together.”
New to that chemistry is sophomore Kayla Poff, who played at Plant in 2011.
“Last year at Plant our only loss was to Steinbrenner, so I knew they were already a great team,” Poff said. She added, “People ask us at school how did we do after each match. To tell them that we’re still undefeated is a great feeling. I don’t think we just have a great shot at winning districts and regionals, but states too.”
The Warriors, who are 41-5 in regular seasons since the school opened in 2009, did a little streak snapping of their own this year.
They ended Plant City’s 26-match win streak and beat the Raiders again on the road later this season.
That’s not to say everything has been easy for Steinbrenner.
The Lutz squad snuck by Class 2A-10 rival Freedom Sept. 25 on the road by three strokes, the closest score during the streak.
The Warriors were without Kelsy Holbert and Brooke Deal due to illness and Becker, the squad’s ace, played despite being sick.
“I thought we were going to lose because our other two best players were sick,” Becker said. “I was overwhelmed with joy when we won. … (The streak) means the world to me. It’s been the best two years of my life, ever.”
The next challenge for Steinbrenner came at the 2A-10 tournament at Walden Lake Country Club in Plant City Oct. 15, but results were not available by press time.
The Warriors won a district title two seasons ago, but had to settle for the runner-up spot last year by five strokes.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
Steinbrenner girls golf scores*
Name Score Yr.
Kayla Poff 41 So.
Claire Becker 42 So.
Hannah Crosby 45 So.
Brooke Deal 45 Jr.
Kelsy Holbert 45 So.
Marlena Gumpher 50 Sr.
*Oct. 11 at Wharton
