Editor, Gazette-Journal:

As a first-year coach of the Mathews High School golf team, I came into the season with many goals such as improving the golf skills of the students on the team, raising the profile of the team in order to attract more future golfers, and developing an appreciation of and support for the golf team by the community at large.

I was happily surprised to find that the realization of that last goal was closer than I realized. After a recent match, one of our team moms noticed that many opposing teams had monogrammed team golf bags and our team did not. In less than two days, funds had been raised and bags had been ordered, and I am proud to say that the Mathews High School golfers played two matches last week toting matching bags which proudly display who we represent. As one golfer put in the thank you notes the team wrote this week, “We look fierce.”

I want to publicly thank Mark and Linden Barrick for seeing a need and springing into action to fill...