October 2024
This month, Zionsville Monthly proudly features Zionsville Community High School freshman Taylor Snively on the cover. Making history at the IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals is a rare achievement, but Taylor did just that—and more—securing not only an individual title but also helping her team capture the championship in one incredible day at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel last month.
Snively claimed the individual title with an impressive two-round total of 144 (72-72), finishing two strokes ahead of Castle High School senior Ashley Kirkland (77-69–146). Snively’s performance makes her only the third freshman in the 52-year history of the IHSAA finals to take individual honors.
A Historic and Impressive Championship Win
Her dedication to both personal excellence and team success helped propel the Zionsville Eagles to a team victory, marking their first state title since 2017. The Eagles shot a combined 627 over two rounds, finishing five strokes ahead of Noblesville that weekend. They posted a strong opening round of 215 on Friday, followed by a 212 on Saturday.
With Snively’s standout performance, Zionsville became the first team since 1999 to claim both the individual and team championships in the same season.
The team showcased impressive depth, with junior Amaya Wade tying for 20th with a 159 total. Freshman Avery Lewis (163), sophomore Paige Henney (165) and sophomore Kaitlyn Adler (167) rounded out the Eagles’ roster, with the top four scores contributing to the team’s total. Leading the Lady Eagles is Coach Maggie Nobbe, a Zionsville alum who played on the school’s 2017 championship team.
As Snively and her teammates look forward to the seasons ahead, their historic victory will serve as a powerful reminder of what dedication and teamwork can achieve.
Developing the Passion for the Game
Snively and her mother Stacy joined us to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Taylor’s journey and development as a young, talented golfer.
“I used to go to the golf course with my dad and two older brothers, who play basketball,” Snively said. “I wanted to beat them at something. It was always fun going with them to hit shots, and I played in my first tournament when I was seven. I was the team manager in fifth grade, and then from sixth grade on, I’ve played with a lot of good friends, including Paige [Henney], who’s been on the team with me since I started playing at Zionsville.”
Stacy shared that Snively has been instructed by three phenomenal coaches: Libby Pancake, Jon Hoover and Maggie Nobbe.
Stacy added, “All three coaches have been a great influence on Taylor. Libby has been great with a lot of Taylor’s development on and off the course because of [Libby’s] experiences with her daughter, Annabelle. Coach Maggie has known Taylor for quite a while. Maggie used to babysit Taylor and would take her out on the golf course while watching her, so she had been waiting on Taylor to come up the ranks for a while!”
Snively explained how, leading up to her freshman year and throughout the team’s journey to the state championship, she has focused on strengthening both her mental game and the physical aspects of her play.
“Golf is definitely a mental sport,” Snively explained. “You have to be strong-minded, and I’ve been doing a lot better working shot by shot throughout the years. I feel like my putting and driving game has come a long way. My mom used to say that I liked to hit trick shots around the course because I was everywhere!”
Preparing for the Big Dance
Snively emphasized that her success, both as an individual and as a member of the Zionsville team, is largely thanks to the camaraderie and support shared among all team members.
“Growing up, I knew all the girls pretty well, and we’ve always been competitive,” Snively shared. “It has been awesome to see us all bond and connect as a team this season. It’s been fun and really enjoyable.”
When asked how she mentally prepared for the state championship as a young freshman, Snively replied, “The team’s motto was, ‘No fear.’ You have to play every shot with no fear because if you play with fear, you’re never going to have the outcome you want, and you’re playing with the whole team on your back, so you can’t play with any fear in your mind. You have to play like, ‘I’ve got this!’ You have to stay in the moment and be positive.”
Support From Family, Friends and Community Is Key
Snively expressed her appreciation for her family, friends and the community’s support throughout the season and the state championship.
“I remember getting on the bus and the sendoff [to state] right before left me speechless,” Snively stated. “There were so many people there supporting us, and it was cool to see everyone coming together like they do for any [Zionsville] sport or activity. The town is always there helping us.”
When asked what advice Snively would give to the up-and-coming student-athletes, she said, “Just remember that anything is possible. Back in March, I didn’t think I was capable of winning this tournament, but if you work hard and believe in yourself… anything can happen.”
Snively’s mom shared her thoughts from a parent’s perspective on how to support your high-level student-athlete.
“I have three kiddos who are all in high-level sports, and it can be intense,” Stacy said. “It can be a lot of pressure, but my husband Scott and I have always allowed the kids to guide us on how much they wanted to do and at what level they wanted to play. Especially with golf, because it’s such a game of time and commitment. They have to love it. It does provide great life lessons outside of playing the sport with the coaching, listening, practicing, dedication and all those things that come with the sport and activity. Additionally, they get so much more from being part of a team.”
