Abby Slabaugh is ready to go for her senior season with the NorthWood girls golf program. (Photo by Mike Deak)

NAPPANEE – Not even an incoming projectile can sully the mood of the NorthWood girls golf program.

During challenge matches, which for some programs can be stressful and ultra-competitive, a wayward pitch approach landed just inches from a host of Panther golfers waiting for their teammates to finish. Some may not take well to such a poorly approached ball heading into a gallery. For this NorthWood team, they laughed it off and continued their light mood just days from starting another grueling golf calendar.

“We have a lot of fun and get along really well,” laughed Abby Slabaugh after her challenge round Friday morning at McCormick Creek Golf Course. “We are like a team of sisters. We have a lot of inside jokes and funny things like that. We have an Uno tournament every year. Of course, we have our moments like anyone else, but we have an awful lot of fun.”

For Slabaugh, life in the spotlight has been a covert one. Not having to be the center of attention has allowed her the benefits that the likes of a Linnzie Richner, Summer Stillson or even current senior Mackenzie Weaver didn’t and don’t get. Slabaugh has bounced around outside of the No. 1 for three years, and even as a senior co-captain this year, will likely not have to go off last at any point this year.

Weaver returns for her fourth year and second as the No. 1, and with the addition of mega-talented Cybil Stillson, Slabaugh fits in very nicely as the No. 3 heading into next week’s season opener Monday at the Harrison Invitational.

“I just try to stay focused and take it a hole at a time rather than looking at the big picture,” said Slabaugh, who earned All-NLC honors last fall. “If I am at a hole, I’m looking at how to get there (pointing to a spot on the fairway), and then there, and into the hole. I like to stay focused on what’s in front of me, not what else is going on.”

The mood of the program hasn’t changed, with all of the nuances still in play. Head coach Adam Yoder returns to the chartered golf cart again this fall, flip flops on his feet, and Oreo the Panther still secure to the roof. Yoder brings in a stellar dual mark of 118-18 (.868 win percentage) over his first 10 years, and has one of the best résumés in the area. The 2017 version of the Panthers were 9-0 in dual matches, seven of those wins sweeping the Northern Lakes Conference, to which NorthWood has won the title six years running. NorthWood hasn’t lost an NLC dual going back to 2011, spanning 43 victories.

NorthWood has been in the regional tournament top-five for the past five years, with two state appearances in 2013 and 2015. Yoder feels this group has the ability, but knows that golden ticket in Kendallville is both a long way out and very tough to find.

“There’s no question we talk about how important the conference is and we have a record board (in the basement of McCormick’s clubhouse) where we see the pictures,” Yoder said. “They know if they put the time in and stick to the process, they will get better day by day. We don’t talk about winning as much. We put some carrots out there to motivate them as far as scores go. It’s just become the expectation here that we have good golf. It’s part of who we are as a program, the past players, the parks department, the school corporation. I’m just trying to steer the ship and not screw it up.”

Weaver is a three-time All-NLC performer and was the sectional runner-up a season ago en route to a state appearance. A return trip to Carmel this fall would make her the only NorthWood girls golfer in history to reach the finals three times and an All-NLC nod would have her join Summer Stillson as the only four-time All-NLC performers.

The Panthers add the younger Cybil Stillson to the fold, who makes her long-awaited high school debut. Stillson has made waves already this summer, including a runner-up 75 at the IGA Age Group tourney and a host of scores in the 70s during tourney play, which include championships.

Yoder noted he has nine who will all see varsity time in the first week of the season which features four tournaments around the state. The likes of returners Kylee Gall and Makenna Gall, Kirsten Schrock as well as Delaney Davis make up an experienced junior class, and sophomore Abigail Richner also saw varsity time a season ago. Freshman Breanna Goss also comes in with varsity-level expectations this season.

“Obviously we are proud of those two state teams. Playing in a single-class regional like ours, you have to play really well to get out,” continued Yoder. “We’ve been in the top five at the regional since 2013, and that’s what we’re looking at. Get ourselves in the mix and if it happens, then it happens. There’s no question this group has a lot of talent, one through nine. But that doesn’t mean a whole lot right now because they haven’t won anything. No invitationals, no medalists, no ribbons for this year. They will be humble, there is no question about it.”