By: Joanna Chadwick

Senior golfer Natalie Wilson got her start on the greens with her grandpa when she was 8 years old. He took her to the “Hook a Kid” golf program given through the Derby Recreation Commission. 

Wilson has always played golf but knew that she would be one of four girls who competed for the Derby High School girls golf team this year. 

“We have a really tight-knit group of girls,” Wilson said. “Me, Hannah (Minnis) and Katie (Hazen) have been friends for almost five years now, so we were already really close, and then we just added Addie (Oetken) into our mix.” 

The family atmosphere has helped the team continually get better.

“We have a lot of fun together and cheer each other on,” Wilson said. “We’re all each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and I think that helps make our team work, even if we don’t have a big team.”

With golf being an up-and-down type of sport, Wilson has learned in her time playing that she can only control her outcome. 

“I think my mindset is something that makes me stand out because I’m not the very best on the team, but I don’t let that affect me,” Wilson said. “There are good days, and there are bad days, but my good days are starting to get better and better. And I think that’s the ultimate goal for me.”

As the season has progressed, something that Wilson will always carry with her is the relationships she has been able to make with her teammates and opponents. 

“This season has been super fun, and I have loved getting to go after school and just play golf with my friends,” Wilson said. “I’ve met some really nice girls from other schools at tournaments, and it’s really fun to see them over and over at different tournaments.”

With the end goal being a berth in the Class 6A tournament, her ultimate goal has been getting better each time she steps on the green. 

“I set my own goals and try to beat myself and meet my own standards,” Wilson said.