By Kaylee Wasco
The Charger
H. H. Dow HS
1st Place
Division 1, Yearbook
Sports Feature Writing
On Aug. 31, senior Stephanie Carras finished the 18th hole, except this time she broke the school record with a score of 69. Talent with a golf club did not start and end with Stephanie. Her younger sister, junior Alexis Carras, golfed on the DHS golf team as well as her older sister Kharissa, who went on to golf for DePauw University. The girls agreed that their father had a lot to do with their golf talent through support and coaching advice.
“It’s really nice that he watches us play,” Stephanie said. “He is able to coach us better because he knows what we do under pressure.”
The girls put in about an hour with their dad after practice to improve aspects of their game.
‘We both have individual swings so it’s easier on my dad when we’re [practicing] separate,” Alexis said.
Golf may have encompassed their family sometimes, but the girls cherished the fact that one sport brought them together so much.
“Sometimes it’s hard when he brings [golf] up at dinners, but he cares so much and I love having that,” Alexis said.
Due to Michigan winters, the Carras family found a way to continue their training. Kharissa was the first to live and train in Arizona with her grandparents. After Alexis saw the success, she decided to go there during her eighth grade year. Finally, Stephanie followed suit for the first time sophomore year. Both Stephanie and Alexis pursued the opportunity to enhance their golf abilities even though they left their lives in Midland behind.
“It got really lonely, but my dad [visits] often and my grandpa is very similar to my dad, so it just overlaps,” Stephanie said.
The Carras’ always competed, but the rivalry became stronger in matches with each other as opposed to some of their actual meets.
“When I beat one of my family members, it’s huge because we trash talk a lot,” Alexis said. ”When I finally beat them, it’s so fun.”
The entire family’s commitment to golf had shown to be productive. One week after Stephanie broke the school record, in the student section of the Heritage football game she announced that she had committed to the University of Georgia to play D 1 golf.
“[Kharissa] inspired me [to play in college], because I always thought I was going to play volleyball,” Stephanie said. “My mom’s a little bit nervous but my dad wanted me to go to a big school. I guess we will just see if it works out.”