There is something extraordinary happening on the Dobbs Ferry Varsity Golf Team. What is it, you may ask? Well, you might know that most varsity teams consist of mostly high schoolers, and the best players are typically upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). However, four out of five of this year’s team’s top players come from DFMS.
The four players are Recce Bass-Weiss (7th grader), Henry Jaeger (8th grader), Jack Bell (8th grader), and Zach Steel (8th grader). In addition, 8th graders Lorcan Barcoe and Tyler Goodman are also members of the team.
Bass-Weiss plays in the team’s #1 position and has posted the lowest scores on the team throughout the season. “What I love most about golf is that it is a challenge. You have good days and bad days and your swing is changing almost every day. The greatest challenges of playing a varsity sport is that some kids can be d1 college prospects and are really really good.”
Along with Bass-Weiss, Bell and Steel were recently awarded All-League as being one of the top 12 individual players in the League. Jaeger is one of the team’s most improved players and a key to their team’s success. Barcoe and Goodman have been consistently improving throughout the season and should be a part of the team’s success in the years to come.
Mr. Feller, the varsity coach, has been pleased with his middle schoolers contributions to the team. “It’s quite remarkable, really. We are in strong contention for the league title and we are relying primarily on our middle schoolers. As a group they have a strong combination of skill, talent, determination, work ethic and commitment. I am so impressed with them as a group.” Bass-Weiss said, “My experience on the team was great. All the upperclassmen (high schoolers) were very nice to all the middle schoolers.”
Dobbs Ferry placed 2nd in the league, despite having, by far, the youngest and most inexperienced roster in the league. In addition, they have set a school record low score of 202 in a victory over league rival Ardsley. “What a match that was,” said Feller. “Three of our players (Bell, Jaeger, Steel) shot their personal best that day and we did it on an unfamiliar, super-difficult course against a league rival.” It was the first time a Dobbs team swept both matches against Ardsley.