Rising Star Roadtrip: Young Hays girls golf team looks to build on 2023 runner-up finish

HAYS, Kan. (KWCH) - The Hays girls golf team battled its way to a second-place finish in 5A behind four-time defending champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel last fall.

But in order to compete for another trophy in 2024, the Indians will have to fill out a roster that loses four seniors and three medalists from last year’s team.

The lone returner from that squad, which went to state for an 18th-straight year, is senior Jaycee Oakley.

“It’s different, but I think it’s going to be good. I think that since I’ve been on the team for four years, I know how to do it,” Oakley said. “I’m excited to help the new team, because it’s all new girls basically, and it’s going to be fun.”

That success of last year isn’t new to Hays. Under head coach mark Watts, Hays has one state title and multiple top-three finishes in a 34-year span.

They added to it with the runner-up finish last year and a WAC title.

“It’s just kind of like, just thinking about what we have to do, to get to where we need to be,” Watts said.