ARCANUM — The Xenia High School girls varsity golf team claimed a pair of historic firsts on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The Buccaneers claimed the school’s first ever girls team championship trophy, while winning a share of the inaugural Miami Valley League overall team title, at Beechwood Golf Course.
Xenia shot a 393 team total over Beechwood’s 18 holes, followed by Greenville (397), Butler (400), Tippecanoe (422), Troy (424), Piqua (463) and Sidney (489).
“The ladies had already broken the school scoring record several times this season, but this is one goal they set at the beginning of the season. I am so proud of each and every one of them. To see the joy on their faces Saturday was amazing,” XHS coach Kent Anderson said.
Olivia Wagner claimed medalist honors by recording the tournament’s only round under 80. Wagner birdied the final hole to shoot a 79 and win the individual title by six strokes over Butler’s Lexi Crawford.
Wagner and Bucs teammate Brynna Mardis were both named to the MVL’s First Team, while Darby Nolen and Grace Bond were named to the Miami Valley League’s second team. Anderson was quick to point out that the team’s fifth player, Stacie Baxley, scored in six of the seven league matches this season.
Mardis shot a 93, Nolen turned in a 107, Bond shot a 114 and Baxley finished with a 118.
Entering Saturday’s tournament finale, Xenia trailed Greenville in the overall team standings by one point. Greenville went undefeated in MVL competition this season, while Xenia had gone 6-1.
But with Xenia’s tournament win, the Bucs and Green Wave ultimately shared the overall team title.
During the regular season, Xenia established the team scoring record on Sept. 9 with a 162-199 win over Northmont.
Anderson said the school will recognize the Xenia team members at halftime of a future home varsity football game. Xenia’s final two home contests are Oct. 18 and 25 at Doug Adams Stadium. He said it was likely that the team would receive recognition at a possible school assembly as well.
Xenia will next compete in the Division I girls sectional golf tournament, which will be held starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Yankee Trace Golf Course in Centerville.
