The ball inches towards the hole, entering with a second to spare, marking the end of the game and the start of the season. 

The time has come again Noles! As the new school year begins, the golf team goes through numerous changes as seniors depart making way for incoming freshmen to get a taste of the golf team and traditions that come alongside it. 

The Seminole High School (SHS) boys golf team may be one of the most underrated sports teams on campus, yet their dedication is shown through their daily activities. Consisting of 10 players, the golf team puts in an enormous amount of effort, gaining many victories against other challenging opponents.  

The 2024-2025 Boys Golfers consist of the following players:

Dayaan Siddiqi (Captain) 

Victor DiBartolo (Co-captain)

Matt Siegrist

Paul Capraro

Maddox Rimes

Tommy Walker

Mason Bryan

Braxton Price

Chase Law

Arvin Mudunuri

From Monday through Thursday, the team drives down to Mayfair, a country club, from 3 to 5 P.M. to practice for upcoming games. 

These practices aren’t a walk in the park either. Dayaan Siddiqi, the senior captain, explains how “before practice, we usually hit Wawa and get all the needed nutrients. We first go to the driving range for about an hour, working on drivers and irons. After that, we usually do 30 minutes of short game ranges which are chips and puts. Finally, we usually play 9 holes focusing on our strengths and weaknesses, followed by a meeting where we discuss upcoming matches.” Dayaan has been a part of the golf team since his freshman year, recently becoming the captain. 

But the practice does not stop there, with many of these players golfing beyond these practice hours. Victor DiBartolo, an IB senior who is also the co-captain, states: “We practice on the weekdays, but I also practice on the weekends most of the time, as do most of the other players.” DiBartolo has been on the golf team for all four years of high school, practicing outside of school hours, allowing him to maintain a consistent schedule perfecting his game.

Typically, there are one to two matches every week against different high schools such as Oviedo, Lake Mary, Lake Brantley, and more. Each team consists of around six players who play individually but ultimately work together. After many difficult courses, the top four lowest players scores are added up, and the team with the lowest score is declared the winner. If a team wins the majority of their matches they advance to Semi-finals and then finals. 

Besides the sport, many players enjoy other aspects of the team as well. The players are able to meet and compete against new people, and the captains get to lead their team to victory. “It’s awesome just to be able to coach new players and help them out,” Dayaan exclaims, while the co-captain, Victor Dibartlo, explains how “my favorite part of the golf team is probably meeting new people, as that’s always a fun experience.”

Although golf may look easy, it requires aim, precision, and complete concentration. Sports in general are tricky to maintain with the tough workload given throughout high school. The golf team, for instance, has two hours of daily practice along with many players golfing outside these hours. The competitions also take up much of their time ranging from two to four hours which have to be balanced with school assignments, tests, and clubs. Golf is a tough sport requiring consistent practice, dedication, and hardwork, which is exemplified through the teammates and how they play.