Monday, Oct. 6, marked the first day of sectionals for the Highland Park High School Boys Golf team, marking the continuation of the Giants’ memorable season. Crucially, their strong performance in conference play, where they finished second, helped prepare them for this opportunity. Particularly, the consistently strong outings from senior captain David Fridman and juniors Cooper Borstein, Cole Rosenbloom, and Judah Paul–who all qualified for sectionals–helped lead the way. While these athletes have been in the spotlight, their performance as a team has helped them reach these heights as well.
The second-place finish was no easy feat, and it required the Giants to shine in difficult moments. When asked what helped them achieve this record, Paul said, “We played well when it mattered and we showed up as a team.”
Playing well under pressure is very important for any team, and the Giants’ ability to do it consistently has been pivotal to their success. While their play has been a major factor, their togetherness as a team has arguably been equally critical to their success.
“Being mostly juniors, our group is much closer because many of us have known each other since elementary school and middle school,” Borstein said. This chemistry and capability to deliver in important moments showed itself in their many conference meets, where they won all but one.
Their ability to play together as a team was on full display on the stat sheet this season. Rosenbloom–who finished second–topped off the list of the six Giants in the top ten of conference play. Others on the list include: Fridman, Borstein, Paul, junior Cameron Saffro, and sophomore Zach Rosenberg. These strong numbers ensured that even if an athlete was having a bad day on the course, other members on the team could step up and ensure the Giants still got the win. The team’s depth proved crucial to their success throughout the long season.
“As much as we all wanted to play at our best every meet, that was not always possible. Having so many great golfers helped take the pressure off any one person, and I think was a big part of our success as a team,” Rosenberg said. With sectionals starting Monday, the four Giants who qualified look to carry the momentum of conference and regionals with them. Regardless of the outcome, their historic season will not be forgotten–especially for Fridman, who looks to leave a legacy in his last high school season.
