Notre Dame Academy girls’ golf team was fortunate enough to bring the program back to state for their twelfth year in a row.

The team won their twelfth straight WIAA sectional title on October 6, finishing four strokes ahead of Green Bay Preble. Senior Elizabeth Bobinski carded a 78 to lead NDA with a third place individual finish.

Maddie Woodward, Emily Martin, Emily Smits and Carolyn Tressler made their first state tournament debuts on Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13, at University Ridge Golf Course in Verona, Wisconsin.

The team was considered quite young for a state competitor.

However, Coach Brian Bobinski believes that being a young team has multiple advantages, primarily going into future years.

Stephanie Staed, a senior at NDA, was a strong leader of the golf team this year. Staed enjoyed being the leader because of the calibre of girls that she played with.

“It was a great experience, and I learned the importance of being a positive role model,” said the senior.

Staed described how her senior year was one of her favorite years of being a part of the team because of the encouraging and supportive environment created by the girls.

“It was such a great achievement to make it to state as a team this year, and even though we did not play as well as we hoped, I could not be more proud of how we represented Notre Dame.”

Also, the team this year was bigger than it had been in Staed’s previous three years, and she was extremely pleased to see the number of girls that are starting to develop interest in the sport.

Staed said, “I enjoyed going to all the practices and meets and making new memories with the girls.”

Staed is not planning on playing competitive golf in college, but she will still play during her summers with family and friends.

Elizabeth Bobinski, senior at NDA, was another strong leader on the team this year. She shot an 85, her lowest round this year, at the state tournament.

“It was nice to have a good ending to my high school career. I was pleased to share it with the team and my family,” said the coach’s sister.

Elizabeth Bobinski truly felt like the girls’ golf team was her second home and that they made this year a year to remember.

“There is always someone who is there when someone needs something,” she said. “I just love being around this team.”

Bobinski would like to golf in college. However, it depends on the college that she attends if she will play or not.

Sophomore Maddie Woodward added, “I would say this season was an amazing learning experience for me. The three seniors became some of my best friends and taught me so much. Having three of us who were new made it even better because we all pushed each other to get better over the course of the season.”

“By the end of the season it felt as though we were a family,” Woodward said. “Spending so much time in the car together especially made it seem like that. I have formed friendships and memories that will last forever.”

Coach Brian Bobinski was pleased to see how his team pushed one another to be the very best that they could be.

“Even though it was not the final outcome that we wanted,” he said, “I am still extremely proud of this group of girls, especially the seniors.”