Linski picks links, court for autumn -- By Jeff Sentell
It was a decision no player ever wants to make. Yet Katelyn Linski had to think about choosing between playing two sports she had always loved.
Linski has always played volleyball for Stonewall Jackson. The senior has also done very well playing alongside the boys on the golf team since she was in the eighth grade.
This year, the Virginia High School League moved volleyball to the same fall season as golf. Linski was faced with a decision tougher than wallpapering her locker with one heartthrob instead of another.
She chose a challenge instead. Linski is a student 35 hours a week, a volleyball player eight hours a week and a golfer six hours every week.
This fall, there hasn't been a volleyball player in the area who can touch Linski on the links. She shot a personal-best 75 from the ladies' tees at Shenvalee last season.
"I love volleyball, and I love golf," Linski said. "It's my senior year, and I didn't want to have to make a choice. Golf is over by the beginning of October with another month left of volleyball season. If I made a choice, I would be saying, 'I wish I was with my volleyball team' or, 'The weather's perfect. I should be playing golf today,' I would regret it."
If faced with the choice be-tween a key district golf match and a tough district volleyball game, it would be a no-brainer.
"Golf would come first because that team needs me more," Linski said. "I'm the No. 2 spot on the golf team. Our volleyball team has eight seniors, so I think they would be a little better off without me."
The double-duty role has been quite hectic for a golfer who finished tied for 14th out of 42 golfers in last year's VHSL State Girls' Championships.
"It's tough," Linski said. "It's a lot harder than I ever thought it was going to be. Playing two sports means you have to have two different game faces. It's tough to focus."
Linski gives her dual schedules to golf coach Scott Wymer and volleyball coach Keith Cubbage. It's the first piece of a time management puzzle.
"I am taking two advanced preparatory classes on top of my regular schoolwork," Linski said. "Last weekend I went to a volleyball tournament on Saturday, and I did my homework the entire day Sunday. That's my life right now."
The switch is possible because golf combines individual play into a team score. She's not hurting her teammates when she's absent. Yet she's one of two seniors on the team. Seniors are supposed to be leaders.
"Sometimes I play make-up with golf," Linski said. "The other day, I was at golf and had to leave for volleyball. I finished my golf when I got back and got in a few extra holes."
She's not missing out on some aspects of the life of a one-sport high school senior. Love for the game wasn't the only reason she couldn't do without spikes, sets and kills.
"All her best friends are on the volleyball team," said Donna Linski, Katelyn's mother. "That's the key right there. She's not missing out on anything."
A varied practice schedule has been tough working around the team concept.
"Sometimes I feel like half a teammate or something," Linski said. "You can't be at every practice. You miss things. It's frustrating sometimes."
It has also been a challenge in reaching her personal bests. Any golfer knows her game goes down in proportion to a dip in practice time.
"I'm sure that if I was at golf practice every day, I would be a better golfer. But that's a sacrifice I guess I have to make to do all of this," Linski said.
Her game hasn't suffered. A competing golfer paid her the ultimate compliment Tuesday at Shenvalee. Broadway's Ryan Long was impressed with even a part-time Linski.
"It's no different than playing with a guy out here," Long said.
That's to her credit. Linski long ago passed the novelty of being just a girl golfer who succeeds despite heavy yardage advantages in every opponent's favor.
"She stopped being the girl out here during her sophomore year when her scores started helping our team," said Josh Romick, Stonewall's top golfer. "I'm glad she came back. Without her, this season would be a lot harder. We need her score to help this team."
