Dec. 3, 2008
Illinois golf finished the fall ranked sixth in the country. The Illini team knows that in order to keep the momentum going, they must put in the work during the off-season. Sophomore Chris DeForest gives some insight.
Hey Illini, after a solid start to the 08-09 season we are currently in our official off season. Focus has shifted from the golf course to academics and the weight room, but that doesn't mean you don't find a few of us practicing at our indoor facility.
After a long season, it is important for us to work hard in school and make sure to catch up on any work we may have got behind on. Along with catching up academically our team has really taken our weight lifting to the next level. Our strength coaches have set up great workout plans in order for us to reach our highest potential physically. Our team is really taking this seriously because it is quite an advantage to be in optimal shape. We usually work out three days a week, but many team members pop in randomly at other times to get an extra workout in.
The team is also taking full advantage of our indoor golf facility. It is a great resource and it's allowing all of us to stay on top of our games despite the cold weather. This is the second year that our team is using the completed facility and it is really benefitting all of us. Being from New York I experience many of the same weather difficulties as Champaign but Demirjian makes it a lot easier to keep my game in shape. Even though it is the off season we are always bumping into each other and having competitive games at Demirjian. We find this is an effective way to stay competitive throughout the time off.
When it comes to activities besides school, golf, and lifting weights the team generally sticks together. Whether it is going to check out a movie or just hanging out we enjoy each others company. It's good to develop these relationships in other places besides team settings. Well thats about it for whats going on amongst the Illini golfers. Be sure to check out the upcoming basketball games we hope to have a good year!
