The Helias Crusaders got a taste of the Class 3 state golf championships last year.
With three qualifiers returning from a team that finished sixth, the Crusaders want more than that this year.
"That experience should pay some dividends," Helias coach Dan Campbell said as the Crusaders get set to open the season today at the Eldon Quad. "Just being in that atmosphere, standing on the first tee with a lot of people watching, it can be never-wracking. Hopefully we've got it out of our system."
And if they did?
"We've got as good a chance as anybody," Campbell said. "But there are a lot of good teams out there and in a two-day tournament, you have to grind out some scores."
Campbell believes the Crusaders will be able to grind out scores this season.
"There are a lot of talented players on this team," he said. "When we group them up in practice, you can see they are competitive with each other."
Jack Rundle returns for his third season as the No. 1 player for the Crusaders. Rundle, who is being recruited by several area colleges, was 23rd at state last year and 34th as a sophomore.
"I know he's very motivated to be all-state as a senior," Campbell said. "His game is really good right now, he can make up for a bad hole or two by making a lot of birdies."
Cole Higgins, another senior, is the No. 2 player. The Lincoln University signee was 36th at state last year.
"Cole can hit it a long way, he can really dominate on the par-5s," Campbell said.
Alex Gentry, who saw time on varsity but was not on the state team last season as a freshman, is the No. 3 player.
"He got some experience as a freshman, plus he played a lot of tournament last summer, so he's used to the competition," Campbell said. "The strength of his game is around the greens, he's so good getting the ball in the hole."
That ability is important for all the Crusaders.
"That has to be good because even if you are having a bad day with the driver, you can make up some strokes with good shots around the green," Campbell said.
There could be a season-long battle for the final two spots on the varsity. Through the first 63 holes of practice, the fourth through eighth players were separated by total of just 12 strokes.
"It's tight," Campbell said. "But competition makes the players individually better and that makes our team better.
"I can see where people are going to be battling for the No. 4 and 5 spots on varsity for the entire season, right up until the district tournament. It should keep everybody motivated."
Campbell said those five players are all capable of earning those spots.
"They are all low 80 shooters, it will just depend on what day they can toss out a 77 or a 78," he said. "They just need to stay away from the bad hole, that's the key."
The Crusaders have high expectations for themselves this season.
"I like hearing them talk about that because that means they are thinking about the team," Campbell said.
There is one change to the schedule this season as Helias is in Webb City Invitational later this month. That will provide a chance for the Crusaders to see potential sectional tournament competition from southwest Missouri.
Helias will host its district tournament at Jefferson City Country Club, with the sectional scheduled for Marshfield. The Class 3 state tournament will be played at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton.