It doesn't take much boldness to state the obvious -- the Westminster girls golf team is really good.
The term "Dream Team" seems to be thrown around an awful lot, but if ever there were one on the high school level, it would be the Wildcats.
Westminster has not lost a match all season and is the odds-on favorite to win the Class 1 state tournament, which is to be staged Monday and Tuesday at Silo Ridge Golf Club in Bolivar.
"They just keep going out there and playing steady golf," Westminster coach Steve Bradley said. "We're going one stroke at a time and trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves. We don't want to look good on paper and then fall."
Westminster has finished third each of the last two seasons, but it returned its nucleus from last season -- seniors Margaret Moore and Maggie Mauze, junior Brooke Cusumano and sophomore Jordan Wolf -- and added a strong transfer in junior Ciara Younger.
"At any given time, I have four girls that could be a No. 1 player," Bradley said. "Jordan has medaled six times, Brooke has medaled four times, and Margaret has medaled three times. I love it. I've never had anything like it before."
Wolf finished in a tie for second at state last year as a freshman and has captured Metro League, district and sectional titles. She likes the makeup of her squad.
"I think we're pretty confident," Wolf said. "Our team is stacked. Even next year. I know we'll lose Margaret and Maggie and Rachael (Gantner, the No. 6 player), but I still think me, Ciara and Brooke can pull it off."
Cusumano tied for sixth at state last year after tying for 19th as a freshman.
"It's cool to see everyone contributing in different tournaments," she said. "No one is ever carrying the team. It's everybody together. It adds a competitive edge to us."
Younger, a transfer from Barat Academy, has had a solid season, including a second-place finish at the Missouri-Illinois River Challenge.
"They were all really welcoming. We got along great from the start," Younger said of her new teammates. "We enjoy each other's presence. Our chemistry is really good."
Mauze made the trip to state last year and finished in a tie for 75th.
"I feel very blessed that all of us play golf well," she said. "It's great to play on a team like this."
For fellow senior Moore, this will be her third state berth. After tying for 40th as a sophomore, she moved up to 15th last year. The wily veteran would love to team up with the talented Westminster youngsters and finish her last season with a bang.
"Who wouldn't want to do that? Senior year with a bunch of little rascals behind me? They give me a run for my money, which I like," Moore said. "I'm so proud of all them for pulling together and not getting cocky because everyone is saying ‘you're supposed to win.' It's hard to not let that get to your head. But, I think we can pull it off."
