A baby blue glove, multicolored golf balls and polished fingernails make one athlete on campus stand out from the rest of her teammates.

Despite being the only girl on the roster and experience that included a couple of swings at Madera Municipal driving range, sophomore Abby Schoettler chose to join the golf team.

?My family lives for golf,? Schoettler said. ?They eat, breathe and sleep golf. I?ve grown up around the sport and I thought it would be fun to participate in an activity for second semester.?

While many girls would refuse to play a sport on a team filled with guys, Schoettler seems to manage.

?The guys are funny,? Schoettler said. ?This is my first year playing golf, many of my teammates, like Spencer Lee (’10), have helped by giving me pointers on how to improve my game.?

Like many new to a sport, techniques require development, so Schoettler?s teammates support her in her efforts.

?I try to help Abby by showing her what she does wrong,? Lee said. ?When she slides her hips too much I show her what she can do in order to fix her swing. She has an amusing personality and I have fun hanging out with her.?

Coach Jeff Hopper appreciates Schoettler’s dedication to the team.

“Abby is new to the sport and she seems fascinated by the game,” Hopper said. “I admire the fact that she’s able to laugh at her mistakes and learn at the same time.”

The golf team competes as coed, but only three other girls in the entire league besides Schoettler play in the tournaments.

?My favorite part about golf is getting to know the other athletes,? Schoettler said. ?I especially enjoy it when I get to socialize with the other girl golfers, because we can relate more in certain areas.?

Schoettler admits there is disadvantages to playing a coed sport, but chooses to look past the score.

?I?m not going to lie, the guys can hit the ball a lot further than me,? Schoettler said. ?It?s challenging to compete against others at such a high level, but I?m still learning.?

In order for Schoettler to develop and progress as a golfer she understands practice and commitment will help her achieve her ambitions.

?My goal for this season is to know and understand the rules of the game,? Schoettler said. ?If I can do that and get a comfortable swing I will be satisfied. If there is a golf team next year I will definitely play. I hope I can influence other girls to play through my example.?