Head Coach Brian Botsford recently hosted the Lady Lancers for their annual end-of-season awards dinner. Photo courtesy of Head Coach Brian Botsford

STOCKTON, CA (MPG) - A pair of Lady Lancers recently participated in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Sac Joaquin Section Division II Divisionals golf tournament at Swinson Golf Course in Stockton, CA on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The event was an invaluable learning experience for two juniors who have been standouts for Cordova this fall. 

Junior golfers Avery Arnold and Anna Vysotska both participated in the tournament for Cordova after strong individual regular season performances earned them a spot in postseason action. The course proved challenging for the underclassmen on the day as Arnold withdrew from the tournament after struggling to get out of a sand trap early on. Vysotska meanwhile shot a 123. For Cordova Head Coach Brian Botsford, watching the pair learn what postseason play was all about was always the goal. 

“This course was definitely a step up and a championship level course,” he said. “I think that should happen. When you get into the Divisional level of course you should get tougher. This course was slated to have difficulty for those kids who tend to veer it left or veer it right. Was it a difficult course for Anna and Avery? Yeah. But as they said, their goal was to get there. We did meet that goal, and I was very proud of them that they did that.”

Cordova juniors Avery Arnold and Anna Vysotska recently participated in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Division II Divisionals tournament in Stockton, CA on Oct. 27. Photo courtesy of Head Coach Brian Botsford

Botsford noted that typically for younger players, the step up in competition during Divisionals can prove to be a “deer in the headlights” type of experience but for the two Lady Lancers, it was more about the course proving to be a challenge. Following the event, Botsford made his message clear that he was happy with how they played. 

“I told them, ‘Hey, it was a tough course, but you were here.’” Botsford said. “We’ve just got to work a little bit harder next year and see if we can push ourselves a little bit farther. I told them I was very proud of them making it and that was part of our goal at the beginning of the season. Next year we want to repeat the same.”

On Thursday, Oct. 29, Botsford hosted the team and families at his residence for their annual end-of-season awards dinner. Each player received recognition for their efforts this year, with Vysotska earning the coveted Coaches Award, given to the student athlete who best exemplifies leadership on and off the course. With the girls’ fall season now over, Botsford is looking towards the spring when he will once again coach the boys golf team at Cordova and openly encourages any and all students who may be interested in playing to inquire on campus.