Manitowoc (WFRV) – For over a century, girls at Manitowoc Lincoln High School had just one choice if they wanted to compete in golf: playing on the boys team.
“I didn’t really know when I would play next — maybe one meet a year,” said senior Olivia Rabitz, who previously competed alongside the boys.
However, that all changed this fall. For the first time in school history, Lincoln’s female golfers are teeing off as a team of their own, writing a new chapter in Ships athletics.
“It’s definitely an honor to be on the first girls golf team,” said senior Olivia Dickey. “We’ve been hoping to have a team for years, and now we finally had enough girls. It’s really exciting.”
“It’s crazy that for over 100 years there was no girls golf team,” added sophomore Briella Reeves. “But it’s really cool to start something new for our school.”
Head coach Chris Grodek has been working toward this milestone for years. Watching it finally come together, he said, felt special.
“When we made history at that first golf meet, it felt like a proud dad moment,” Grodek said. “I helped create something—with their help. I built a culture that they wanted to be a part of, and they truly enjoy it.”
While the fundamentals of golf haven’t changed for the lady Ships, the experience has.
“With the boys, they just want to play golf and not interact with anyone else but themselves,” Reeves said. “With the girls, it’s just been so fun this year.”
Grodek, who has coached multiple teams over the years, said leading this one has been a refreshing change of pace.
“It’s way different than the boys,” he said. “The boys, I could drive them somewhere and they won’t say a word the entire time. With the girls, they don’t stop talking. They’re asking me questions, trying to get to know me and each other, and they’re singing in the car. It’s completely different.”
Although golf is often considered an individual sport, players say the sense of community has been a game-changer.
“Everybody is really friendly,” said senior Julia Tuma. “We’ve had so much fun and really been able to bond as a team. In prior years, we haven’t really had that.”
Grodek emphasized that creating the girls team wasn’t just about competition, it was about creating opportunity.
“My best girl didn’t have the chance to play varsity last year,” he said. “I didn’t want to mess up the chemistry with the boys team. And it was tough — we had a competitive group. This year, she leads our girls varsity team and she’s doing a phenomenal job. And the experience the other girls are gaining has been awesome.”
For Rabitz and her teammates, being part of the school’s first girls golf team is something they’ll never forget.
“I’m just having a lot of fun,” Rabitz said. “I don’t take it all too seriously. I just go out, have fun, and get to know people.”
