First female golfer from Washington High School to jump to college is Zoey Nichols

Zoey Nichols never expected to be a role model.

A senior at Washington High School, Nichols participates in class, does her homework and counts down the days until she walks across the graduation stage.

But when she’s not in school, Nichols can be found on the green with a golf club in her hand and a look of concentration on her face. Growing up with a father who was a professional golfer, the sport was always around, enticing her to give it a try once she entered high school.

“I use to play soccer, but we don’t have girls soccer (at Washington), so I started golf,” Nichols said. “I really got into it, my coach pushed me and helped me and got me to where I am now.”

After four years of mastering the sport, Nichols decided to take her skills to the next level, announcing her intent to join the McDaniel College golf team Thursday. Nichols is the first female golfer from Washington to continue her playing career past high school.

“It’s exciting,” Nichols said. “I’m so ready take this next step. I’m grateful to everyone that supported me and has believed in me all this time.”

Nichols struggled her first years as a golfer, unable to stay consistent or hit her shot. But the Princess Anne native practiced almost every day, working on putting, chipping and tee-offs.

As a senior, Nichols was selected to the All-Bayside Honorable Mentions list and was ranked as the 13th best golfer in the Bayside South.

Her best performances came last fall, when Nichols scored a 43 in a nine-hole round at Great Hope Golf Course before qualifying for states with a score of 84 at the 18-hole regional tournament.

“She’s come a long way from her freshman year,” head coach William Knopf said. “She’s a model, and she’s the model of what you need to do to go to the next level. Golf is definitely not the easiest sport in the world, but she’s earned it and I can’t wait to watch her play college golf.”

Nichols said she chose McDaniel because of the small town feel she’s accustomed to in Princess Anne.

Wanting to excel on the green, while forming good relationships with her peers, the Washington senior thought a future with the Green Terror was the best place she could accomplish her goals.

“When I shot the 84, I was finally like, ‘Maybe I can do this,’ and everyone was telling me, ‘We told you all along,’” Nichols said with a laugh. “After that, I got a confidence boost. I started emailing coaches, and McDaniel just fit both athletically and academically.”

Nichols said that after practice, she would go to the driving range and practice for hours until she finally felt comfortable with her shot. Once she developed a solid drive, the senior worked on her short game and putting, making her an all-around strong golfer.

While she expected her game to get better, Nichols never planned on motivating other golfers around the area as someone who struggled to get even a birdie early in her career.

As Washington’s first female golfer to make the jump to college, Nichols hopes her story serves as inspiration to both genders, saying that no matter how difficult a hole or course may be, never lose focus.

“They can do this – they can go to the next level,” Nichols said. “Believe in yourself.”

Knopf also thinks Nichols’ commitment will have a positive impact on golfers across the conference.

The Jaguars have the motto, “You’ve got to believe it to achieve it,” and now that Nichols’ teammates and competitors can look at what she’s accomplished, Knopf hopes to see other golfers make the jump to college in the foreseeable future.

“I think she’s showing everyone to just stick with what you believe,” Knopf said. “Hopefully you have a coach that sticks behind you and pushes you to get there. Don’t ever shut your dream down. She’s bought into this, and now she’s got a great opportunity.”

Jaguars produce pair of college basketball commits

When Nichols heads to McDaniel in the fall, she will know at least one familiar face in the crowd.

Washington’s Josh Sproul also announced his intent to play basketball for the Green Terror, marking the end to a long recruitment process. The senior had visits to several institutions, including Salisbury University, Christopher Newport and Frostburg State.

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In his final season, Sproul was an All-Conference First Team selection, averaging nearly 25 points a game. His performance helped lead Washington to an appearance in the second round of the MPSSAA 1A East playoffs.

“I’m just glad I made the decision, so now I can keep working and moving forward,” Sproul said. “I know it’s going to be a big jump from Bayside basketball down here to collegiate basketball, so I’m just working on my game and getting stronger.”

Sproul said he picked McDaniel not necessarily for basketball, but for the school’s kinesiology program. Wanting to study movement in the body, the senior knows academics come first, saying he won’t be able to play basketball forever.

“The ball’s going to stop bouncing one day,” he said. “When it does, I’m going to have a degree in something I want and care for.”  

His teammate, Khalid Gates, will also head to the next level, committing to Cecil College, a junior-college program.

Gates came to the Shore prior the start of the 2017-18 basketball season, joining the Parkside Rams. Midway through the year, the senior transferred to Washington where he, Sproul and fellow Jaguar Dorian Stevens formed a fearsome trio in the Bayside Conference.

Having bounced around several teams already, Gates, a 6-foot-5 guard, said he’s confident he’ll be able to quickly adapt to life as a college athlete.

“I feel good right now,” Gates said. “Going into next year, I’m going to be ready. I’m going to work hard every day and be ready for next season. It was a crazy (year), and it was hard, but I got through it.”

The duo’s head coach, athletic director Danny Lamb, said their commitment to basketball sends a positive message to teammates that are hoping to play the sport past high school.

Lamb acknowledged that it will be tough to fill the holes Sproul and Gates leave, but with the influence they’ve left on the program, Washington’s head coach doesn’t expect his team to miss a beat.  

“(Josh) has mentored the younger kids this season, and that’s one of the reasons he’s our captain,” Lamb said. “I think we have the guys to step up and fill the shoes that they wore.”

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