DAGSBORO — After losing three of the team’s top players from last season, the Indian River High School golf team knew it was going to be hard to repeat the success.

But with a 5-5 record, the Indians are trying to overcome youth to land a successful season.

“We’re not doing horribly, but we definitely have room to improve,” senior Paul Silveira said. “We’re not as strong as last year’s team, but with many young guys we can improve.”

The team had a difficult schedule in the first two weeks of the season, facing undefeated Caesar Rodney, one-loss Sussex Tech and Cape Henlopen. Now entering a stretch of matches against Henlopen South opponents, coach Paris Mitchell Sr. believes the team can put a few more wins in the standings and make a run toward a state tournament berth.

“(The next two weeks) is going to make our season,” he said. “We’re not playing bad. We’re not getting the scores we think we are capable of getting, but with one senior and the rest underclassmen, I think we’ll be better next year.”

So far this season, Mitchell said four different freshmen have found their way into the starting lineup and he hopes it is the sign of good things to come.

“I think next year they will be regular players,” he said. “I think we’ve got some decent players for the future and I think we can play respectably in the (Henlopen South).”

One of the keys to improving is building confidence in their abilities, junior Thomas Brady said, and with more focus and concentration on their games, he believes the team can progress.

“We’re playing alright, but we could be doing much better,” he said. “We just need to concentrate more and start focusing on our shots to be able to put them on target and not try to make miracle shots.”

With two weeks remaining in his high school golf career, Silveira said the team needs to take advantage of the time they have at home and practice to improve their game. Having a country club as the team’s home course, he believes the team gains valuable experience they may not be able to throughout the rest of the year.

Playing at Cripple Creek Country Club, will give the team an advantage every time they step out on the course, Mitchell said.

“It’s a definite advantage playing here because we have two of the toughest holes that you’ll play anywhere with No. 5 and No. 8 –both Par 5s — because they is so much out of bounds and water,” he said. “The other teams look forward to coming here to play those holes.”

But with hazards lurking around the course, Mitchell said many of the younger players can be intimidated.

“I think kids at this age think a little too much about shots,” he said. “They should plan their shot, step up and hit, but they stand over it so long that many things go through their minds and they make a mistake.”

The team hopes for improvement in the final weeks of the season as they are scheduled to face many Henlopen South opponents. They are slated to be back in action at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, when they host Lake Forest High School at Cripple Creek Country Club.

“We’re concentrating on winning the (Henlopen) South and winning matches that we have left,” Mitchell said. “We’re really going to start working hard on concentrating on their games and trying to be more consistent.”

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