By Ryan Hampton, 12 – Timberline Editor

An extraordinary season for the Naaman Forest Golf team has reached its vigorous conclusion. After a nail-biting victory for the District 10-6A Championship, the varsity boys advanced to the regional tournament this past week for the first time in years.

The regional tournament in Waco, TX at Cottonwood Golf Course consists of 16 teams from 8 districts. They take the winner and runner-up teams from each district, as long as the top two individuals separate from those teams as medalists. Junior Isaiah Nickerson paved his way to the regional tourney last year, though Naaman Forest has yet to advance as a team in a handful of years. Not only did they make it this year though, but they arrived in Waco defending a district championship and not just a runner-up title.

I asked Isaiah for his perspective on proceeding to Waco as a team and not just individually. “It was way better than last year,” he explained. “I have so much love for every single one of my teammates and I wouldn’t want to share such a memorable moment like regionals with anyone else.”

The varsity boys roster consisted of Ryan Hampton (12), Isaiah Nickerson (11), Coltin Rowbotham (9), Tim Staats (12), and Blake Johnson (11). The team entered the regional competition ranked 13 out of 16 and held their position throughout the two-day tournament. Rowlett High School started and finished in 14th as they represented the runner-up seed from Garland ISD. With slimmer chances of coming out on top in Waco, the boys went out and played stress-free golf and enjoyed the last hurrah of the season.

Although Naaman Forest finished in the bottom tier of the region, the ultimate goal was to conclude the season with a district championship. The district tourney was held the first week of April at Firewheel Golf Park, playing the Old Course on day one followed by the Bridges on day two. Naaman went out and earned the crown, finishing ahead of Rowlett, Sachse, and Garland respectively.

“We accomplished what we set out to do and that was to win district,” Blake Johnson said on this team’s success. “I’m proud of the way we fought throughout the season and I think it was that, ‘no prisoners,’ mentality that helped make our dreams a reality.”

Coach Cook inputs his own feelings towards this team’s triumphant year. “I couldn’t be more proud of this group. They came together starting with just eight members and went out and recruited, growing this team to eighteen at its height. And ultimately winning a district title for the first time in over ten years was awesome.”

After a victorious first year as varsity golf coach, stacking up the trophy case is something Cook aims to maintain as a tradition here at Naaman. And as for the team, they’ve earned a great amount of respect by their competitive spirits as their success at the Forest has a prospective future ahead.