Sophomore Golf Ace Leads Athens Girls to Firsts for School

Christmas came early this year for golf coach Dan Cooper.

"It's just bizarre," Cooper said about varsity golfer Jennifer Yang's unexpected ability and contributions to the girls varsity team. "She doesn't look intimidating, but when she swings, she's intimidating. She swings like the golfers in the LPGA."

Consider the fact that Yang is only 15 years old and picked up golfing for the first time just three years ago, and it's easy to understand why Cooper is in awe of his star golfer. Three years ago — prior to Yang's arrival on the team — Athens finished in last place in its division. Yang joined the varsity team as a freshman the following year, and the girls finished in fifth place. This year, the team finished in third place.

"It was like someone dropping a Christmas present in my lap," Cooper said.

This season, Yang finished 17th at the Division 1 state finals at the Meadows at Grand Valley State University, took first place in the Oakland County Invitational and kept a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

As a sophomore, Yang is the first girl to be named to any all-state girls golf team in the history of Athens High School, Cooper said. Additionally, she and four of her teammates took fifth place on the All-Academic All-State team with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.87.

Joining Yang on the academic team are Samantha Ruedisueli, MaryAnn Black, Meg Richter and Kirsten Paavola. The team was one of only 20 chosen for the All-Academic All-State designation from among the 979 high schools in Michigan.

Cooper, who coaches the girls and boys varsity golf teams, said he starts each year by stressing the importance of grades and schoolwork. He said the girls already had a strong work ethic, something for which he credited the players' parents.

Yang said she became interested in golf after trying tennis and other sports.

"It was really accidental," she said Tuesday. "I tried it at a camp and found it really interesting."

Cooper said Yang is modest about her ability.

"She is as great a person as she is a golfer. She's very humble and very serious," he said. "The best part about Jennifer Yang is her personality. She's very humble — I think it's from her parents."

Jennifer's father, Yi Yang, said his daughter does well because she likes the sport. He said golf works well for Jennifer because it's similar to the growth process of becoming an adult.

"It's all about how you plan the whole thing," Yang said. "I try to put an emphasis on that ... they also learn how to behave in that environment. No matter how you do, you have to behave yourself and respect other people."