OLYMPIA – For the first time since 2019, the WIAA is hosting a state tournament for boys and girl golf. In the 2A bracket, Othello and Quincy High Schools sent a total of 12 golfers; six boys and two girls for Ephrata, and two girls and two boys for Othello.

Coaches relayed a feeling of excitement for the return of the state tournament, with Ephrata coach Greg Hewitt saying “Finally.”

“Finally,” Hewitt said on how it feels to have a tournament again. “It feels good, we missed it. Missed this atmosphere, so it’s pretty fun to get back to the world of WIAA state.”

The Tigers, who sent six of their 10 golfers to the state tournament in Olympia, are a young team adjusting to the tournament atmosphere quickly, according to Hewitt. The six boys golfers who qualified for states are Max Hewitt, Kenji Pickeral, Koa McWilliams, Carter Burns, Hunter Ogle and Mason Moore, and are joined by Logan Pickeral and Jayme Dwight.

“Well, we have a good team,” Hewitt said. “They’re young, but they’re also into golf. They play a lot of WJGA (Washington Junior Golf Association) stuff, practice hard. To get six out of the 10, we expected it, but with the game of golf you never know what can happen.”

In the girls side of the tournament, Othello head coach Heather Ochoa feels ‘honored’ to have her team represented in Tumwater. Ochoa echoed similar sentiments as Hewitt when it comes to the return of a state tournament, noting how it brings back a different level of competition.

“I think it brings back that level of competition and excitement to reach a goal,” Ochoa said. “Where before with Covid and the modified season last year it was just about trying to keep things stable for the students-athletes and have a season for them.”

While Ephrata and Othello coaches welcome the return of the tournament, it is still up to the golfers to perform. Without having a tournament in the previous two seasons, this is the first season many golfers have made it to the state tournament.

“I’m nervous,” Othello senior Chelsea Field said with a laugh. “I feel good, I guess. It’s my first (state tournament), I’m a senior, so it’s pretty cool.”

Ephrata’s Moore shared a similar feeling of nervousness, but says he will rely on his past experiences to help guide him.

“You just need to get through the pressure and just play good,” Moore said. “I just need to not focus on the misses and keep a good attitude.”

Moore says he’s been playing since he was a little kid.

“I’ve been playing since I was a kid, so that kind of helps in tournaments,” Moore said. “I think the past two years, just playing for a school, it’s a lot more pressure.”

Joining Field in Tumwater is Othello’s Mariah Murdock. For the Othello boys, Will Parrish and T.J. Murdock hope to find success in Olympia.

With the completion of the first round on Tuesday, the competition will continue today in both Olympia and Tumwater. First round scores were not available at the time of publication.

Ian Bivona can be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.