Written by Diego Sanchez, Evergreen Park School Network (EPSN) 

When students at Evergreen Park Community High School are asked about the sports teams that have been particularly impressive over the past few years, common answers might be baseball, wrestling, softball or volleyball. But one Mustang team that can sometimes fly under the radar is boys golf, a group that is in the midst of one of the most memorable and winningest seasons in recent history. 

Boys golf has been sneakily good these past few years, and it’s really showing in the form of low scores, close wins, historical firsts and a pair of leaders who just happen to be best friends. 

Senior buddies Greg Tagler and Connor Sefcik have consistently come on top of the scoring board, with a pair of sensational sophomores, Aidan Shields and Ryan Smyth, also regularly helping lead the Mustangs to team wins. As of Sept. 15, the Mustang varsity golf team is sporting an incredible 11-1 record, with their only loss coming to South Suburban Conference powerhouse Lemont. 

Head Coach Scott Pasek, who has been at the helm of the program for more than 20 years, said this group has “actually been one of the most consistent teams I’ve coached, and it’s these golfers and more who I know can definitely contribute every day.” 

The consistency between the team's best, Sefcik and Tagler, has really given this Mustang golf team a feeling of comfort going into every match, knowing that these two are always going to give and play their best. 

These two have grown not only on the course, but also with their friendship, which has heavily improved this team and impacted them as well. But, really, how much has the relationship between the two helped not only the team, but themselves? 

“I think being able to communicate freely to him [Connor] about anything has truly helped,” Tagler said. 

When asked about if there was any competitiveness between the two, Tagler simply laughed and stated, “no, definitely not, but there has been this tiny weight on my shoulders.” 

So maybe there’s no competitiveness between the two, at least in Tagler’s eyes. 

But Sefcik had a very different answer. 

“We compete, every day it’s who shot better than who.” he said. 

So when Sefcik was asked if he is a better golfer than Tagler, he replied with a single word. 

“Absolutely.”

The relationship between the two has certainly gotten them more used to each other's game. 

“He knows my game better than anyone else, and I know his game better than anyone else, so it really helps when it comes to giving advice out on the course,” Sefcik said.

The connection has clearly given the boys golf team a strong veteran presence. In just the second meet of the season, both Sefcik and Tagler shot a 3 under par in a team victory over Bremen at the Hickory Hills Country Club. 

Momentum has carried steadily since then, with season highlights including a one-stroke win over Oak Lawn Community High School at the Spartans’ home Stony Creek Golf Course and a victory over Eisenhower High School at The Meadows Golf Course that saw the Mustangs shoot a 151, the lowest team score recorded during Pasek’s entire career. 

So, has the competitiveness and relationship between Sefcik and Tagler bettered this scrappy boys golf team? The short answer is, yes. It can even be called the power of friendship that's been helping them do so well every day, and excites the team and the team's followers for the weeks to come as regionals are quickly approaching.