There is much to be excited about for Mexico boys golf this season.

Head coach Becca Bates said this will be a more experienced group than in the past who have the ability to make solid contact with the ball. Bates said making solid contact is the first thing discussed in golf lessons so the Bulldogs should be able to fine-tune from there.

“I am excited this year because all of our kids can get the ball off of the tee,” Bates said. “Something we have really lacked is getting the ball off the tee and in play at a reasonable distance. That is something I am looking forward to this year.”

There are 18 kids on the roster with 11 upperclassmen, including six seniors.

“What is unique about it is I have a decently athletic group that's new to the team this year and new to the sport, but they are athletic enough individuals that they are considered experienced,” Bates said.

Bates said Houston Crow is a senior who spent a year away from the team but didn’t take a year off the course. He said Crow’s work appears to have already paid off, as is the case for Mac Haag in his fourth season. Karson Rowe is going into his second year; Landon Johannaber, Ethan Johnson, Matthew Painter, Chase Unger are all returners; and Robert Lopez, Jude and Myles Yancey are improving every day.

Cayden Brown, Kyler Benne, Kaiden O'Connor and Evan Wilson are each in their first years but have proven they can be assets to the team, Bates said. She is also high on lone freshman Easton Stuart because of his “advanced swing.”

“Something we have lacked in the past is depth on the bench,” Bates said. “This year, I am confident that almost anyone I play will handle it and do just fine in competition.”

Because five kids play varsity, Bates said coaches look at numbers but also factor in things like grades, showing up for practice and if they know the rules.

“My expectation is they make it really hard for me to decide who is on what squad, JV or varsity, and who will travel because they all are doing so well,” Bates said.