Following his first season as coach of the Liberty girls golf team and a fifth place finish at the Division I state in 2020, Kyle Pooler heard parents talk about shooting for a top three spot.
He told the parents and players that they needed to change their mentality and shoot for the top spot this fall. However, the coach was under no illusions. Phoenix Xavier Prep would enter the state finals Nov. 1-2 as favorite — as always.
Liberty maintained that belief, taking a one stroke lead after Day 1 at Omni Tucson National. And on Nov. 2 the Lions held firm, becoming the second team in a decade to deny the Gators their crown, winning with a total score of 593 to Xavier’s 596.
