Friday night football games, volleyball highlights, and soccer shutouts are phrases all too common among our student body. What shouldn’t be overlooked, and should be given equal recognition, are the athletes of Centennial’s very own golf team.
Ryan Kane has been on Centennial’s team since his freshman year, and throughout those years, he’s become a figurehead for Centennial’s varsity golf team.
Kane has played golf throughout his life, but he only seriously started pursuing it in 8th grade. “Golf’s a very addicting sport,” Kane said, “once you get over the first barrier of being able to hit the ball.”
This year has felt different for Kane. “It’s the most complete and competitive team I’ve been a part of,” he explained. “We can go into every match knowing we have a chance to win.”
Kane attributes much of that growth to head coach Robert Slopek, whose dedication has helped the team become more unified and competitive. “You can see how much Slopek cares about being a competitive program, and that mantra has really spread through the team,” Kane said. “We’ve grown tighter because of it, playing together outside of practices on weekends or after school.”
On a personal level, Kane attributes his success this season to working on the mental side of his game. “It’s very easy to spiral after a couple of bad shots, but that’s what separates tiers of golfers, especially in competition,” he said. “Being part of a team that wants to win every week keeps me grounded. It’s a lot tougher to give up when you know your team is counting on you.”
That team-first mentality has paid off. Centennial beat River Hill High School earlier this season and qualified four players for the counties, which are both firsts since 2010.
Kane will be joined by seniors Jathan Chavez and sophomores Brady Stocksdale, Ben Joo, and Makayla Robinson, all of whom have shown tremendous promise.
Next up are Districts, where the team will aim for a combined score of 333 or better to qualify for States.
Kane encourages anyone interested to give the sport a chance. “A lot of people give up early because it’s hard to get the hang of,” Kane said. “But once you do, it’s so much fun.” He also highlights how, with nine seniors, boys and girls, graduating this year, spots are wide open.
On a side note, Ryan reveals how by joining the team, “you get free golf and the chance to get better every week.”
As Kane prepares to wrap up his final high school season, he offers some advice to future golfers. “It’s truly amazing how much you can improve just by playing consistently,” he said. “Golf is incredibly difficult, and you can’t expect perfection. What matters is how you recover from bad shots.”
With his final high school season nearing its end and as he and his teammates prepare for Districts, one thing is clear: Centennial golf is back on the map, and the future looks bright.
