The Parkland golf team is gearing up this week for its 2020 season, looking to improve upon last year’s campaign. The Trojans will be inexperienced, but will still have the confidence and hard work ready to compete this season.

“We are rebuilding this year,” said Kilpatrick. “We have a younger team and some first-year players. We want to continue to improve and play better with each match. If our 1-5 show up, I think we can score pretty well.”

Parkland graduated seniors Trevor Grimm, who was the individual district champion, as well as Connor Nelson, Ava Sweeney, Kyle Hoke, and Sam Mortazavi. The quintet all played in most of the matches in 2019. Along with Grimm, Mortazavi also qualified for districts last season.

James Kelly is a top returnee for the Trojans, having also qualified for districts last year as a sophomore, finishing tied for 18th. He has an average of 81 heading into his junior year.

“James Kelly and Danielle Crenshaw are two promising returning players, both are juniors,” Kilpatrick said. “Nic Atlas is a returning player who is playing well early in the season, and he is a senior.”

With a ton of newer players filling out the remaining five or so spots in the lineup, Kilpatrick is not looking for magic right from the start, but gradual improvement each and every match.

“Our goal this year is to improve throughout the season,” Kilpatrick said. “Since we are so young and inexperienced, I want our players to improve each week and grow as players.”

Defending league champion Emmaus will once again be strong this season, along with Liberty and Nazareth.

Parkland opened up its 2020 campaign at its home course of Iron Lakes Country Club Tuesday against Whitehall. The Trojans will hit the road Thursday to take on Easton at Riverview Golf Course to wrap up the opening week of competition.