When the Washington girls’ golf program opens a new campaign today in Kalona, they will do so with a new coach leading the charge. 

Longtime head man Len Kull announced last fall that he is calling it quits after 41 years and taking over for him is a former assistant of the six-time state champion. Erin Thorius, a Washington middle school math teacher and girls golf assistant from 2005-2012, will take over the reigns for the orange and black. Thorius was on staff during the first two state titles in 2007 and 2008 and she tells KCII Sports how exciting it is to rejoin such a storied program. “I was with this program for eight years and worked with a lot of really good golf teams, so when this position popped up this year I wanted to take it and run with it. We want to keep the tradition alive and I am excited to teach a game that I love and a game they can use for a lifetime. Golf is a mental game and if you can get your mind right that will help a lot. I want the girls to have confidence in their swings and understand they will go through bad shots, but hopefully help them get out of those and finish strong on their rounds.”

Washington has won it all in four of the last six seasons and they return three of the top six from last year’s champion squad in Makenna Conrad, Kaylin Long, and Alecia Goff. The new era officially commences at 4:30 p.m. today at Kalona Golf and Country Club.