David Cook
Sports Scene
With one of the premier golfers in the state leading the way, the Okemos girls golf team has risen to the top of the polls in Division 1.
One of the top teams the past several years in the Mid-Michigan area, the Wolves are also a team to watch come the middle of October at the state golf finals. Okemos placed ninth in the state at last year’s Division finals and is looking for an even loftier finish this season.
“We are really happy with the season we’ve had up to now,” said Okemos coach Dan Stolz. “We have a super-nice group of kids and I enjoy being with them every day. From the scores I’ve seen out there, I feel like we are a top five team in the state.”
The Wolves have turned in several noteworthy performances this season including winning titles at the Holt Invitational, the Capital Area Activities Conference (CAAC) Open and the Gull Lake tournament at Bedford Valley Golf Club. The Wolves turned in their best performance of the season at the CAAC Open where they set a school record with a 308 team total.
Leading the way for the Wolves is senior Alena Li. Not only the top player on the squad, Li is also one of the premier golfers in the entire state. A three-time, all-state golfer, Li is turning in a huge senior season as she is averaging 68 for the season and is an amazing 35-under par for the entire season.
“To be 35 under par for the season just blew my mind,” Stolz said. “Anytime you have a round under par that is an accomplishment. Alena has had two rounds of 64 this year. She is just a really terrific player. We are really fortunate to have her. She is just an amazing player. She won the state junior amateur this summer, she competed at the junior amateur in California and the junior PGA in Maryland. She has had a really great year.”
Li has been on a roll each year of her high school career as she has finished in the top ten at the state meet in all three of her previous seasons.
“Alena rarely gets into any trouble,” Stolz said. “She hits the ball long and straight. Her short game is very good. She can chip up and one putt. She is also a good putter and if you are going to score you have to be able to putt.
Okemos also has plenty of talent rounding out the lineup led by freshman Anika Srivastava.
“Anika has gotten better and better,” Stolz said. “She shot around 80 the first three matches but lately she has shot 75, 72 and 75. She has a 78 average and for a freshman she has done a terrific job stepping in.”
Rounding out the Okemos lineup is Emma O’Shea who is averaging 86.8, sophomore Anisha Pabbathi is averaging 95 and freshman Zoey McArdle is averaging 97.6.
“After Alena we are a pretty young team,” Stolz said. “We have a freshman, two sophomores and a freshman. We are pretty young but our young golfers are doing a really nice job.”
With the conference tournament, regional and state finals coming up, the Wolves are primed to finish strong.
“It’s been a fun season,” Stolz said. “We’re hoping for a strong finish and to do well the rest of the season.”
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