The pressure is on, all eyes looking on junior Taylor Mezzatesta as he takes a deep breath. He clears the world from his mind and concentrates on one thing: the golf ball.

In the midst of a championship drive, Mezzatesta focuses not on winning but on having fun and playing the game he loves.

The team has won five games, three losses, and one tie, according to the MIAA website. Additionally, Mezzatesta, the number one golfer on the team, is attempting to win the MIAA individual championship.

This team is about more than one individual, however. Every golfer contributes to the team and will be needed to pull off a championship season, especially when facing challenging teams on the way to the playoffs.

“We have two tough teams in Severn and St. Mary’s, but if we play like we can, we’ll beat them,” varsity head coach Anthony Del Puppo said.

“The talent is there, but we need every member of the team to show it,” Mezzatesta said.

However, winning is not all this team is about. This season, the team has learned more than just how to swing a club.

“Everyone encourages everyone on the team. No one is ever putting another team member down,” Mezzatesta said.

Instead, the golfers help each other throughout the season. “The leadership is great on the team. [Senior] T.C. Sanders, our captain, has had a great influence on me,” junior golfer Daniel Bonsack said.

In light of the team’s recent success and hype surrounding the players, Del Puppo is taking a realistic approach. “We are definitely not the favorites, but I know if my guys play their best golf, we have a realistic shot at the championship,” Del Puppo said.

The golfers on the team are excited to compete and be in the championship hunt, but they will not let it get to their heads. “We are grateful for the opportunity to know if we play our best, we can win. Although we know we can win, we make sure not to let it get to our heads and be in the one-game-at-a-time mentality,” Bonsack said.

Golf involves commitment and dedication to truly succeed, and that is what this team has been doing. The sport requires the athlete to not only train the body, but also the mind. A golfer needs precision and pin-point accuracy which can be tedious to achieve. Even with the work involved in the sport, the team enjoys themselves while playing.

“Being able to play golf four days a week is awesome,” Sanders said. “Especially with these guys, we just always have a good time together.”
Kishan Patel is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.