The ACU disc golf team traveled to South Carolina to compete in a national tournament as a farewell for three graduating seniors.
Between school and work, senior competitor Trey Arnett, business and finance major from Argyle, and the other three team members were able to practice four days a week to train for the competition. They worked on practicing different shots and techniques that were needed to compete at nationals.
The team went in hoping to make it into the top 25, but according to Professional Disc Golf Association results, they finished 30th out of 67 competing teams.
“I’m proud of our performance,” Arnett said. “This was my first major tournament, so it was a huge learning experience and something I saw as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity since I’m graduating in May.”
The end of the season leaves expectations for the following years, which presents the team with a slight problem: the disc golf team will only have one returning member who made it to nationals when it competes next year.
The team of four will drop to a team of one after fall 2015 as Garrett Langthorp, social science for teachers major from Conroe, has accepted a teaching job in Houston, Arnett will graduate in May and Cody Drennan will graduate in December.
Team captain Ian Story, junior physical science teaching major from White Oak, will be the lone member left of the team.
“Losing most our team to graduation will be a minor setback, but we’ll be on the lookout for anyone who can fill those spots,” Story said. “Male or female, if you’re good enough, then you will make the team. We’re even hoping to gain enough interest to have multiple teams for next year.”
As the end of the season, the year and college approaches, seniors like Arnett feel a sense of responsibility to keep the group going.
“I’m worried about the disc golf team on campus next year,” Trey said. “The club on campus hasn’t really taken off in the past few years, and I think folks are really missing out on something special.”
Story is planning open practices, mini-tournaments and tryouts to recruit new players and continue expanding the ACU Disc Golf Club.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Story said. “But the relationships gained through competition is something that I look forward to as much as playing.”
