Prior to his eighth grade school year, Ryland Nierman went to Hickory Hills Golf Club in Brownstown to get a feeling for golf.

He enjoyed the sport and has been playing golf ever since, including four years at Trinity Lutheran High School.

“I enjoy how you can play it your whole life,” Nierman said. “ It’s a family game. People can go out with families and play.”

He played in junior varsity matches his freshman and sophomore years before moving into the varsity line up last season. He has played the No. 3 position for the Cougars this spring.

Nierman’s low score, a 39, came at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour. He said his favorite hole is No. No 4 because it is wide open, and he usually scores well on it, and the hardest hole for him is No. 8, a long par three.

On the schedule, Nierman looked forward to tournaments.

“If you’re having a bad first nine you can come back on the back nine and put up a good score,” Niermansaid. “You can always bounce back if you’re playing bad at certain times.”

The senior’s low tournament score has been an 87, which he shot three times this year at Shadowood, Salt Creek (Nashville) and Oak Tree (Plainfield).

Nierman said playing in May tournaments helped him prepare for the sectional Monday at Bloomington Country Club.

He said he was in a slump in early May, but has improved the past two weeks.

“I’m hitting the ball like I usually hit the ball, so that’s good,” Nierman said. “ I think I’m finally getting back to that consistent spot where I was at the beginning of the season.

“Coming into the sectionals, I think I’ll be right at the right time. Usually we’ll play (rounds) three times a week. We’ll go out to the course and putt a little bit then play a round. Depending on how we hit the ball, some will go to the range afterward, or work on what they need to before they leave.”

Nierman said his mental game has improved over time.

“I remember my first two years my mental game was really bad,” he said. “I’ve learned to take a few steps and think about why it happened and I just try to forget about it and move onto the next hole.”

He has enjoyed attending TLHS.

“I like how it’s very small and you have close relationships with a lot of people, and you have close relationships with your teachers and you just know everybody,” Nierman said. “I’m the kind of person who likes smaller things, smaller classes.”

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Name: Ryland Nierman

High school: Trinity Lutheran

Parents: Brian and Amy Nierman

Siblings: Brayton, Camdyn, Shelby

Sports: golf 4 years

Athletic highlights: tie team school record

Organizations: FFA, 4H (10-year member)

Plans after high school: attend Purdue, study animal science

Favorite food: boneless wings

Favorite TV show: Stranger Things

Favorite athlete: Drew Brees

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