Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
Yelm High School’s girls golf team concluded its final home match of the season at Tahoma Valley Golf Course in Yelm on Tuesday, Oct. 7, against Emerald Ridge with a loss. But they celebrated the team’s five seniors for the hard work and dedication they’ve shown through their time in the program.
The five seniors on the YHS girls golf team in 2025 were Melony Blankenship, Addie Hanson, Maddy Lawson, Ciarra Bratton and Sophia Sheedy. The team played 11 matches throughout the season, according to SPSL.org, and picked up wins against Spanaway Lake, Graham Kapowsin and Bethel.
The team’s interim head coach, Andy MacDonald, told the Nisqually Valley News that though he can only “speak to this season” as he’s covering for head coach McKenzie Green who recently had a baby.
“They have brought a good spirit and fun atmosphere. It was fun being around them for this season,” MacDonald said. “Coach McKenzie had most of them for four years and would probably say that she was excited about their growth and sad to see them go.”
In the final home match of the season, the Tornados came up short against South Puget Sound League opponent Emerald Ridge by a score of 92-38, according to SPSL.org. Despite the loss, MacDonald said the team is trending into the right direction as the league tournament approaches.
“The league tournament is up next for us this week,” MacDonald said. “We have some players that have competed well in this tournament in the past, and we will be looking forward to trying to get them through to the district tournament that will take place in the spring season at the end of the year.”
Throughout the 2025 fall season, the YHS girls golf team has picked up three match wins. According to MacDonald, that’s about “right where (the team) should be.”
“We had chances in a few other matches, but had some players out with various circumstances,” MacDonald said. “Our largest challenge would be our lack of a driving range which doesn’t allow us to work on many of the things that we need to work on. Though we are very excited about the work that Tahoma Valley is doing on their course, which includes the development of a driving range and a youth program, that will be a driving factor in future success for our program.”
