BY DOUG WOLTER
WORTHINGTON -- Anneke Weg has been such a fixture in Worthington High School sports for the past several years, it’s hard to believe that at the end of the 2017-18 year, she’ll have graduated.
When it finally happens in the spring, Weg will embark on the next chapter in her life: studying biology and playing golf at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Weg, fresh off a volleyball season where she established herself as the school’s all-time set assists and service points leader, has been working toward this moment since she was a 6-year-old member of the local junior golf program.
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“You’d swing the club that’s bigger than you are,” she recalled Friday morning while signing to play with the Mustangs.
“Ever since then, I didn’t put it down.”
Weg’s devotion to those “heavy” golf clubs at an early age -- and her steady improvement throughout her growing-up years -- is what has prepared her for the next step. It’s a step she’s excited to be taking.
“It’s going to be great. I’ll travel a lot, see a lot of courses, meet a lot of girls,” she said Friday.
Before choosing SMSU, she had to choose which sport to play. She played basketball, volleyball and golf at high school and was a solid contributor in all three for a number of years. Once golf was decided upon, she then had to pick a school. She enjoyed all aspects of her SMSU visit.
“People say you’ll know when you get there. And I definitely knew,” she explained.
Her high school golf coach, Paul Barduson, believes Anneke is ready for all that college has to offer.
“She’s academically, athletically very solid. She’s just at every level a good person,” he said. “This year she was absolutely our leader. She’s a rock. She medaled multiple times.”
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The college golf season is different from high school on several levels, Barduson pointed out, and one important change for Weg will be that she’ll hit the ground running in the fall. The college year will begin with five consecutive weeks of traveling golf, which can be quite an adjustment for a freshman who still needs to study -- and in Weg’s case, biology is a stern challenge all by itself.
But Barduson says Weg’s high school performance as a multi-sport athlete will serve her well. And besides, “She very smart, very athletic, and she has that work ethic. Now, in my opinion, since she’s only focusing on golf, that’s going to get her to the next level.”
Weg explains that she’s very much looking forward to performing not just in Marshall, but elsewhere. SMSU hosts a tournament in Arizona. She’ll also be eligible to travel to other courses all over the country.
“Just knowing I’m going to get to see a lot of things, play a lot of courses, it’s a great opportunity and I’m blessed to have it,” she said.
