By Ricardo Arguello, Appleton Post-Crescent

Ryan Prickette, Xavier

Age: 16

Year: Sophomore

Accomplishments

• Averaged 35.43 per nine holes.
• Was Xavier’s top golfer and helped the Hawks to their second consecutive Valley 8 conference title.
• Was named Valley 8’s player of the year for second consecutive season.

Ouch!

On suffering his back injury before WIAA regionals: “It was really frustrating. It came at the absolute worst time. I kind of ignored it all year. I felt it kind of grew on me all year. I got some (medication), but it didn’t make me feel 100 percent. I wasn’t confident because I couldn’t practice before regionals. And it was a struggle all day (at regionals).

No time for summer vacation

What part of your game do you want to work on this summer? Ball striking. That may be my weakest point. My putting is the best part of my game, but as of late it hasn’t been that great. But I’m constantly working on everything.

Family guy

If I could golf against any player, I would pick: My family. I’ve played with them all my life.

What the expert says:

Steve Howe, Xavier coach: “He’s become stronger physically. He’s hitting the ball 30 yards farther this year. That brought all the par-fives reachable in two shots. We try in the wintertime to breed success by patting them on the back. Telling them ‘You’re the guy to beat out there’. He’s got that confidence that if you want to win, you have to beat me.