The 2025 version of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn girls golf features players on both ends of the experience spectrum. Senior Gracie Knobloch is the lone varsity player back for this season. Sophomore Kam Visser is the only other golfer returning, and she primarily played JV last year. “I do have five other golfers, including four freshmen and one sophomore,” said head coach Cheryl Kroese, also one of those returning.
Knobloch earned War Eagle First Team All-Conference honors last season, topping the point standings. She capped her junior season by golfing in the State Tournament. “I’m excited for Gracie to be able to compete again this year!” said her coach. “I think the whole state experience has just made her a more confident golfer and I’m confident she can continue to take her game to a higher level! She just knows what it takes to come out to practice each day and work on the small things so that her overall game continues to improve. I love her competitive drive and have been teaming her up with the boys team off and on to challenge her in our practices on a daily basis. She is also a good leader for younger gals, which is helpful to me when I can’t be several places on the course at once during practice.” 
Speaking of those younger gals, the team includes sophomore Emery Cammann and freshmen Stella Anderson, Addily Benz, Natalie Dagel and Mason VerHelst. “My newcomers have little experience on the golf course, but have showed promise with our beginning practices,” observed Kroese  “They are willing to learn and I think once they get the hang of how meets run, they will feel more comfortable on the course.”
Though showing some ability, the younger golfers are not yet ready for prime time, according to their coach. Said Kroese, “It is definitely different not having the experience I’ve been blessed with in the past, so to start the season, I do not see us being able to fill the varsity roster, but with time, I am hoping to have girls who can possibly step up to fill that role! We have been lucky so far with practices to be able to get outside which will help with developing our new golfers.”
Kroese was asked to handicap the War Eagle as to the top teams this season. “I could see MMCRU being pretty solid in the conference as they have a lot of returning players,” said the Hawk coach. “Akron-Westfield is always well coached and has some decent experience. I haven’t seen all of the rosters yet so not 100 percent certain of the other teams and who all is returning, but I’m sure Hinton and Gehlen should have solid teams as well.” 
With the gap in experience among the HMS team members comes a separation in regard to what goals their coach has set. “Goals for the season include a repeat performance for Gracie at the state level and I’d like to see her place in the top in the conference standings,” stated Kroese. “She is the type of player that can definitely come out and win a meet any night of the week, so I know that is a goal worth going after. My goals for the younger, less experienced players is to be able to guide them and be able to teach them more about the game of golf and get them started on the journey towards becoming a varsity competitor. I’m excited to see what the season will bring!”