For the past three years, the golf team has taken two firsts in state and a second. However, this year there won't be another state banner on the wall. The young Raider team was unable to qualify for state when they lost to St. Marys and Sabetha in regionals, which Nemaha Valley hosted on May 23. Youth was the Raiders' biggest fault. Only one member of the team was on last year's champion squad. Steve Robke, jr., was the constant leader throughout the year. His season came together when he shot two under par 70 at regionals. This score was easily first, and it qualified him to compete as an individual at state. There he competed against the best golfers in Kansas at Salina on May 30. "I didn't golf that well, but I still took 12th," said Robke. Judd O'Connor, jr., Andy Sample, jr., and Donnie Berkley, jr., were the other top three golfers on the Raider squad. This was their first year as varsity golfers. Each provided good scores during the season to help nab a few wins. Mike O'Keeefe, so., and Brian Toby, fr., were the two-man team most of the season. They fought hard but couldn't take a two-man trophy. NV was still a dominant team, and they defeated most teams they met. St. Marys and Sabetha were tough competitors all year long. NV managed to beat Sabetha a few times, but the Bluejays always managed to take the spotlight in the big meets. Next year should prove to be a promising one with all varsity members returning to compete. Maybe new life can be brought to a proud Raider golf squad by an experienced team.