Whether she's making music or making putts, Kirsten Robles usually finds a way to succeed.
The junior is the No. 1 player on the Granite City girls golf team and was the only Warriors player to qualify for the Class 2A sectional tournament. She's also an outstanding musician, playing the flute in the school band.
"Kirsten is a dedicated and focused individual and one of the top-notch students here," Granite City girls golf coach Karen Greenwald said. "I appreciate Mr. Roberts (Granite City band director Wyatt Roberts) being so accommodating with our schedule.
"She's one of our few golfers that worked over the summer and the offseason and that's what it takes to be successful. I expect bigger and better things from her next year."
On Oct. 10, Robles competed at 8:30 a.m. in Highland in the Illinois Music Educators Association auditions, then got to Mattoon by 11, just in time to tee off in the Class 2A sectional at Meadowview Golf Course. Robles shot 99.
"That was stressful," Robles said. "We got up to Highland and nobody was there and we realized we were in the wrong place. We drove all the way down from the high school and middle school to the elementary school and finally found the right place. Then the people there said, ‘We have no idea where your room is,' so were searching through the hallways of the school."
The competition went smoothly, but Robles had her eye on the clock the entire morning.
"We got done there (at Highland) and my dad drove to me to Mattoon, and we got there just in time," she said. "I got to hit a few range balls and then I teed off. My first few holes were shaky, but I ended up playing pretty well."
Robles' performance at the sectional helped her finish an up-and-down season on an up note.
"At the beginning I was very happy -- I was hitting what I wanted and I was dropping strokes," Robles said. "All of a sudden in the middle of the season I started having issues with my swing, and I was shooting in the high 50s and low 60s.
"I ended up going to Bob Tays, who works at Gateway (National Golf Links in Madison), and he really brought my swing back. He's an amazing golf coach."
Robles has played the game for only three years.
"I was very bad when I first started," she said. "But I'm happy with the progress I've made. Especially this year, my putting and chipping have gotten a lot better. I've probably dropped 18 strokes, which is a huge difference in a golf game.
"My chipping is still hit-and-miss -- it depends on the day. That's when I have to work on it to get the touch back."
Keeping golf and music in sync has not always been easy. Both require focus -- and time.
Robles, who has played the flute since fourth grade, typically practiced with the golf team on Mondays and Wednesdays and worked with marching band on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
"Whenever she had a tournament on those days, she would play golf, but otherwise she would practice with us," Roberts said. "There was no conflict with her playing golf. We try to encourage all the kids in the band to play at least one sport. It makes them more well-rounded."
While juggling school, band and golf kept her busy, Robles said she enjoys the challenge.
"There are days when I wish I didn't do one of them, but I then I realize that I really love both of them," she said. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Robles' goals before graduation include reaching the state IMEA finals and qualifying for state in golf. Her college plans may not include either music or golf on a competitive level, but she plans to stay involved with both.
"I'm looking at medicinal chemistry, which is the research side of pharmacy and producing new medicines," Robles said. "Eventually I want to do cancer research."
