Greatness comes from repetition, dedication, and poise, and Anton Taranda, ‘26, embodies this sentiment. Taranda has been golfing from the age of five, and although  he played other sports throughout his life, Taranda says that golf was the only sport he stuck with through the years. These years of practice have surely paid off, as Taranda has become a force to be reckoned with on the green.

One of the most deadly aspects of Taranda’s game is his poise. He highlights that “Golf is a mental battle as much as it is a physical battle.” While he is on the green, Taranda says that he always keeps his mind clear and imagines the shot he is about to hit. This, according to him, helps him focus on the game and allows him to send his golf ball where he wants it. Taranda also has the ability to recover quickly from a bad game, because he never lets one bad night define him. Besides this, Taranda is an exceptionally hard worker. Contrary to popular belief, Golf requires years of practice and focus in order to achieve mastery and he has surely put in the time. To prepare for this season alone, Taranda practiced golf swings for countless hours over the course of the summer at Lake Valley Golf Club.

This year, Sam Skubic, ‘27, suffered an elbow injury that prevented him from playing. Since he was the previous star of the team, Taranda knew he had to step up even more heading into this season as a returning varsity player. Not only did Taranda fill the void, but he also propelled the team to success. During the Rocky Mountain league matches, he frequently appeared on the leaderboard. Then came the most important game of his season: the Rocky Mountain League Championship. During the championship, Taranda showcased his abilities by shooting one under par, placing first overall, and qualifying for states. He also helped the team take second place in the season, finishing only eighteen strokes behind Riverdale Ridge.

Additionally, Anton also made first team all conference and placed first in his league for lowest average score, which demonstrates his consistent and skillful strokes. In golf, consistency is hard to achieve because of variations in factors like swing mechanics and the player’s focus.

 For anyone who doesn’t understand golf, a low score means that a player didn’t utilize a lot of strokes to get the job done. When asked about his success, Taranda made sure to acknowledge everyone who helped him throughout the season: “I couldn’t have done it without the support of Coaches Selnau and Huntington, as well as the team and my family,” praises Anton. Anton also thanks Chase Rheingold, ‘27, for driving him to the practices and tournaments throughout the season. At the start of the season, Taranda got into a car accident on his way home from golf practice. While his car was in the shop, Rheingold drove him to and from practices and games. Furthermore, Taranda’s teammate Rheingold states that “Anton is an amazing player and teammate, and he loves to see his team succeed.” Taranda’s other teammates have also praised him as a great teammate and friend.

This year, Taranda was grateful to be playing for the same league and team that he had throughout his high school career, because he got to play with the same people he’s played with and against for years. Thus, the games were competitive but also friendly. 

Taranda’s humble confidence, dedication, and friendly attitude makes if easy to root for him on the course, as he hammers home rounds.