The 2025 girls’ golf season is underway, and two Caldwell County programs are approaching it with distinct but equally ambitious goals.
South Caldwell brings back experience and a steady program identity under longtime coach Darren Hart, while Hibriten embarks on a new era under first-year coach Jon Gragg, who inherits both talent and promise.
South Caldwell: Experience and Character
In his 10th season leading the Spartans,Hart has built a model of consistency. Year after year, South Caldwell fields a roster, and this fall is no exception. The Spartans return five veterans: Addison Worsley, Addison Whitman, Caroline Ingle, Whitley Main, and Bella Smith as well as newcomers, Kaylie Annas and Zoey Whitman.
Three of those returners advanced to regionals last season, and Hart expects them to lead the way again. “I look to have a good year,” he said. “We want to compete for the conference championship, get back to regionals, and hopefully qualify for states.”
The new conference alignment adds McDowell and St. Stephens back into the mix, but Hart isn’t fazed. His teams have competed on those courses so he knows what to expect. The bigger focus, he says, is on refining the short game. “We’ll need to improve as the season unfolds. Get better in and around the greens, chipping, putting, things like that because literally everybody loves to drive,” Hart explained.
For Hart, however, success goes beyond the scorecard. “Everyone can make golf a lifetime activity, something they enjoy, something they look forward to, to keep them physically active, to keep them competitive, and to just get better.”
“I want them to take away more kindness, graciousness, and courage,” he said. “Courage to step out on the first tee in front of a crowd, graciousness in wins, and even-keeled humility in frustration. More than anything, I want them to leave as good, humble people.”.
Hibriten: New leadership, familiar faces
Across the county, Hibriten is turning the page with Gragg, who takes over after years of coaching at William Lenoir Middle School’s club program. He inherits a roster that includes his daughters, Summerlin and Hadley Gragg, along with returners Lindsay Reid and Elizabeth Acosta, and newcomer, Raegan Watts.
Summerlin, now a junior, is already one of the county’s top golfers after qualifying for states last season. Her goal is clear: “I just want to perform well in regionals and states, lower my score from last year and hopefully get into the top five.” Younger sister Hadley enters her first season with her own ambitions that, “I just want to be happy with my scores and [hopefully] make regionals,” she said, adding that playing alongside her sister pushes her to improve.
Coach Gragg is mindful of coaching his own daughters, but he insists his approach is equal for all. “I try to treat all the players the same,” he said. “If anything, I may spend more time helping the newcomers who need it. The girls get along really well, so it makes my job easy to not show favoritism.” His goals mirror his coaching philosophy: Build love for the game, inspire players to grow, and create a foundation of integrity. “If the kids come away really loving golf, I feel like I’ve done my job,” he said. “I don’t want to be hard on them—I just want to motivate and inspire them to reach their personal best.”
Like South Caldwell, Hibriten faces new challenges in conference realignment, including courses some players have never seen before. Silver Creek and Forest City will test the Panthers’ adaptability, but Gragg sees it as an opportunity. He believes Hibriten can compete for the conference crown, even acknowledging the steep competition. “If we could maybe get second place, it would be an accomplishment,” he said. “But we really want to win first place.”
Two programs, two different starting points, yet a shared commitment: to grow stronger on the course and in character. Whether it’s Hart preaching humility and kindness or Gragg promising fairness and inspiration, the 2025 girls’ golf season in Caldwell County is already shaping up to be a memorable one.