Irene Ruiz
The spring season will soon be over for the Lewis & Clark Community College (LC) golf team. It is in the home stretch before the regional match at the end of April.
For these dedicated athletes, golf is not just a pastime, but a year-round commitment. Their competition period begins on August 1 during the fall season and ends in May during the spring season. Each season allows for 6 to 8 tournaments to be played, so players are subjected to two-month periods of intense rivalry and exhaustion.
“Our finishing positions don’t reflect the hours these players have put in,” said Head Coach Shane Callahan.
The competition level is high with 2 national champion teams and players from all over the world. However, the true measure of success goes beyond mere finishing positions. Our golf team focuses on enhancing local talent with players who work hard and embody the spirit of our institution.
“LC golf prefers to find quality players within an extended range of the college’s district,” said Callahan.
The recent Missouri Baptist tournament was a litmus test for the team’s progress, securing a creditable 9th place finish out of 12 teams, which included several 4-year colleges.
Despite the tough competition, the LC golf team demonstrated resilience, showing a steady trajectory of improvement. Through meticulous data tracking and analysis, both players and coaches meticulously refine their strategies, taking advantage of every opportunity for growth.
“This match was validation and continuance of our work as players and coaches,” said Callahan. “We’ve been tracking data metrics on all of our spring tournaments and using that data to drive our individual practice routines.”
Each player’s journey is marked by rigorous goal setting, with post-round reflections serving as a compass for progress. Each of them is subjected to rigorous standards and expectations that must be met 100%, and thanks to them we can see that improvement and growth in all areas, both athletically, academically, and personally.
“Golf is a sport of integrity, therefore or expectations of these standards is geared to establish men of good character,” said Callahan. “Tournament play requires players and coaches to be spread out over many acres of land and we trust our athletes will uphold the values of LC and portray themselves as honorable and respectable adults.”
Fundamental to the team’s success is the contribution of each member and athlete, something in which the player Myles Kampwerth excels. His leadership and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the spirit of the team, leaving an indescribable mark on LC golf. Golf is a complicated sport in which in many cases you must focus several hours on a single athlete, this means that both coaches must always be present and have a fundamental role in the performance of the boys.
“Sophomore Myles Kampwerth is an asset to the team and the embodiment of what we think a Trailblazer should be,” said Callahan. “Operating this team without my assistant coach would be impossible at this level and our successes would be tremendously hampered without him.”
The commitment of each player is clearly visible. The pressure they are under and the difficulty of meeting those objectives makes us realize their endurance. Each match involves going up and down hills carrying 25 bags of gear, as well as having to adapt to the weather conditions and long minivan rides. Without a doubt, our LC boys represent our community at the highest level.
“I think it is important to note the resiliency of these set up players,” said Callahan. “Our expectations are particularly high, and we are inflexible with our standards.”
