She waited anxiously to find out her place. Only the top ten could move forward to nationals.                                            

The girls golf team went to the UIL State Golf Tournament April 25. Out of the 115 girls that played, sophomore Serena Shah came in 15th.

“I didn’t play as well as I hoped,” Shah said. “I didn’t do very good the first day, and tried making it up the second day. It wasn’t the best outcome, but there’s always next year and senior year.”

Despite the disappointment, Shah was still happy about her initial success at the regional competition. After all, she did place first.

“I didn’t even see myself winning regionals,” Shah said. “That was definitely awesome, and going to state with the team was so much fun.”

Shah’s golf coach, Terrie Campbell, was the one to deliver the news to her. She said that Shah had no idea she was still in the lead until the end.

“For her to win the regional championship was pretty awesome,” Campbell said. “I told her, ‘If my calculations are right, I’m pretty sure you’re the regional champion,’ and she was really excited. She didn’t believe me.”

Shah started her golfing journey in the seventh grade, when her dad introduced her to the sport.

“I actually hated it,” Shah said. “I played soccer for nine years and it was my focus. But then something changed and I thought that soccer wasn’t going to take me through college and golf would. I had a change of focus.”

From last year to now, the girls golf team as a whole has also made an improvement.

“Last year, the team didn’t do very well at district,” Shah said. “I didn’t even make it as an individual last year. This is the first year that Hebron girls have ever made it to state.”

Shah plans to continue golfing throughout the rest of high school and in college. Afterward, she wants to keep playing as a hobby.

“That’s the goal right now,” Shah said. “When I get older I see this as something I could do when I want to enjoy my time and have fun. You know, going to state with the team was so much fun. It’s good memories that I get to keep.”