Last year’s trip to the state golf tournament was a little lonely for junior Reed Dettrich.

The only Falcon golfer to qualify after a disastrous district tournament last May dropped the South Whidbey squad from first to almost worst, Dettrich knows his team is better than that. So for the 2003 season, he has something to tell himself and his teammates over and over again if necessary.

“We’re definitely not just going to send one guy,” he said.

This week, this sounded like the right tone to set on a team that is both large and talented. Seventeen boys brought their clubs to the course this week to play for a spot on a Falcon team that is a pre-season favorite to win the North Cascades Conference for the second year in a row.

A few, said team coach Mick Heggenes, will not make the cuts for the 12-member squad. Those that do will have the chance to make good on what looked like the promise of an outstanding season.

“They thought they were hungry last year,” he said.

In 2003, team members know they are hungry, hungry for a chance to go back to the state meet and possibly improve on the team’s sixth-place finish in 2001. But first, the Falcons need to find out how good they are and how much work they need.

Senior golfer Brian Wilson, who will likely co-captain the golf team with classmate Kevin Carter, said he and other members of the team have not been playing much during the off season. At this point, he said he is not sure how they will be on the course against competition. Waiting for a sunbreak before Wednesday’s practice, Wilson said he’s just getting a feel for what the team can do by watching his fellow Falcons on the driving range and the putting green.

“We don’t know everyone’s potential, but from what I’ve seen, we have some guys who will replace the ones we lost last season,” he said.

Missing from the 2003 squad are graduates and former state competitors Chuck Applebee and Bryce Hansen, so Coach Heggenes is working at filling his six varsity spots. Already earmarked for the top four slots are Dettrich, Wilson, Carter and junior Jeff Strong. Expected to compete for the last two spots are sophomores Drew Aernie and Kenny Johnson, and newcomer Kai Zaima.

With a varsity squad expected to be capable of shooting in the low- to mid-80s for 18 holes by season’s end, Heggenes said the Falcons are the team to beat in the NCC. Going beyond that, he said, will take something he believes every golfer seeking better days on the course should do.

“We’re going to try to enjoy the journey and be focused on personal improvement,” he said.