For the first time ever in North Creek High School history a girls golfer has made it all the way to state. Senior Ella Hansen qualified to participate in the state tournament this spring season. Hansen has been playing a part in North Creek golf ever since her freshman year. “Competitively I didn’t start till freshman year, but I’ve been golfing with my dad forever” Hansen said. Clearly her work has paid off especially this season. “I had a really good end to the season, and it was kind of my last shot at it,” Hansen said. Hansen’s “last shot” refers to the fact that she will be graduating this June, and her high school golf journey has come to an end. Despite her amazing accomplishments this golf season, she will be taking her athletic achievements elsewhere, as she will be attending Whatcom community college and playing for their soccer team.
However, even knowing she wasn’t going to play golf for college, she still put in diligent work to get to where she is. “After high school soccer ends, I practice a lot to get ready…when the weathers terrible I’ll just go to the range, and when the weather is not pouring down rain and cold I’ll go to a course,” Hansen said. Even with all the practice Hansen partakes in outside of school she was still shocked and surprised to see where she ended up this season. “I had a bit of a rough start, and if you would have told me that I was going to state I would have said no.”
Hansen had struggles and challenges throughout the season. Not only was the start of her season a little rocky but she faced challenging competition at districts, “when we got to districts, we played against girls who were way better than anyone we’d seen,” Hansen said. The team this season had been placed in tier two in WIAA, making districts a whole new challenge in the competitiveness ranking.
Hansen never originally planned on making state, but it seems pieces started to fall into place towards the end of her season, “I just wanted to have a good senior season, I guess, and [my motivation] was definitely to make day two of the district tournament and then it happened,” Hansen said. No doubt it happened because she went even farther than that and hit the qualifications to make state.
“Making state felt super good, it has been my goal since freshman year and being able to accomplish that with the last chance I could was awesome,” Hansen said. Hansen has had state crossing her mind ever since her freshman year, and even though she did have a little doubt in herself that she would ever be in this spot, she ended up getting a shot at state and checking her overall goal off her checklist.
“State was super good, it rained pretty hard the second day and it was a bit rough but I had fun, and was glad to get to enjoy the experience,” Hansen said. This year’s state tournament took place at Eagles Pride Golf Course (DuPont) on May 20-21. Hansen faced extreme and tough competition in the state tournament. Hansen finished the tournament by placing in the top 29, out of the 72 girls that participated at state. Overall representing North Creek marvelously for the schools first time ever earning a spot in the tournament.
“I’m going to miss my golf coaches and the bus rides to away matches, along with all the snacks we had during golf,” Hansen said.
Although Hansen is leaving the course and graduating she leaves behind pieces of advice to the underclassmen, “definitely put the work in, and go show up to practice…and bring good snacks to practice… play all four years and have fun playing,” Hansen said.
Although Hansen does plan to continue her golf journey competitively, she leaves behind an achievement for the whole school to celebrate. Being the first girl to qualify for state in golf will forever be a part of North Creek’s history, and a mark to establish the school’s identity, in showing the competitiveness North Creek brings in all sports.