players returning to the finals for a second year, used the tournament experience to his advantage. “Last year helped a lot,” he said. “Everyone has nerves in a tournament, but (this time) it was nothing new to us. We stuck with it and played every hole one shot at a time. Everyone did what they were supposed to do. It was a team effort all around.” Although the men’s golf team went from placing 15th last year to winning a NCAA national title this year, Macosko is already focusing on how he can improve the program and team for the upcoming golf season. “We have six returning players to go with three new freshmen coming
in,” he said. “We’re best when we have a lot of competition on the team—it keeps us going forward.” Macosko brought a new mindset of team golf to Schreiner eight years ago when the golf program was first developed, but he also has pushed academic success as the most important attribute for a great golf program. The squad also won the SU Team Scholar GPA Award and was named to the national AllAcademic Team with a cumulative 3.30 GPA this year. “I love this level because athletics should be something that makes you a better, more well-rounded person,” Macoscko said. “In NCAA D-III, academics are the most important thing, and when you’re
doing well in the classroom it helps you to perform better on the golf course.” Macosko said the goal is to support students and lead by example. “I love how Schreiner University is structured in support for students,” he said. “We wanted to create the golf program with that same structure, and we saw no reason why we couldn’t. I love being involved with the players—that’s why I got into this 30 plus years ago.”
Photo: Schreiner men’s golf team, from left: Phil Stewart, Jimmy Keener, Cheyne Kendall, Matt McClung and Zach Oliver.
www.schreiner.edu Summer 2014 13