The Shipp twins set a solid foundation for the foreseeable future of Platte County golf.
As freshmen, Jessalyn and Kasydie Shipp developed into the Pirates top two players and displayed potential during the postseason. They were the lone individual qualifiers for Class 2 Sectional 4 play with Jessalyn Shipp sneaking into the state field, going on to place in a tie for 63rd in the 91 golfer field.
Kasydie Shipp struggled in Sectional 4 play and missed the state cut for Platte County, which finished eighth out of 10 teams at districts.
The Pirates did lose 2013 state qualifier Kortney Rogers and two-year varsity player Emma Reynolds to graduation, and they haven’t finished higher than seventh in districts since 2010 with most of the past five years spent in an extremely competitive field.
Last year, Platte County went 2-5 in duals and will need juniors Abby White, a varsity returner, and Emily Kruse, sophomores McKennah Houlahan and Taylor Holbrook, and freshmen Ava Clark, Grace Clark, Haley Loudon and Lauren Sherwood to sort out the lineup behind the Shipps.
There are no seniors on the roster.
“Our goal this season is to improve every day and make a run for the conference title,” Platte County coach Trevor Short said. “Our keys to success is to work hard every day and improve on every aspect of our game. Our team this year will be young, but not short on talent.”
Platte County did finish second in the Suburban Conference Blue Division championships last season, and Short wants the team to aim to take that title this year.
“The conference tournament looks like it could be something that we have the opportunity to win,” Short said.