The Covington girls golf team returns with high expectations once again.

Expectations are always high with the Covington girls golf team and this season will be no different.

That's because Covington returns four letter winners, including all-league performers Cassie Ingle and Jamie Crowell.

"Cassie (Ingle), Allison (Ingle), Jamie (Crowell) and Katie (Blair) are our returning letterman," said Covington coach Ron Schultz. "And that's from a team that finished fifth in the district meet last year, which was our highest finish ever."

Cassie Ingle, a senior, will once again lead the way for Covington

"Cassie ended will eleventh in the district last year out of sixty golfers," Shultz said. "That's the highest placer we've had and her score of ninety was the best score we've had in the district tournament."

Cassie's sister, Allison, finished fifth overall in the league tournament and narrowly missed out on all-league honors. She also returns to the lineup.

"She was certainly one of the top golfers in the league," Shultz said of Allison. "But she missed a tournament that cost her all-league."

Which Shultz hopes doesn't happen this year as the two have played a lot of golf together over the summer.

"The two Ingle girls have played in a lot of tournaments this summer," he said. "They've finished one, two several times, so we are excited about the possibilities this year."

Also playing a lot of golf have been the Blanton sisters, Jordan and Sydney.

"The Blanton girls have been out on the course a lot as well," Schultz explained. "They've worked very hard and improved significantly over the summer."

Another sister duo, the Crowell sisters, are right there as well.

"Jamie came on throughout the season last year and made all-league, so she is going to be one of our top golfers," Schultz said. "And Jesse is only a freshman, but she seems to pick things up very quickly. She's going to help us this year."

Rounding out and impressive lineup are first-year golfers Morgan McReynolds, Kimi Young and Heather Spurgeon.

"All of the girls have worked hard," Schultz said. "It is tough sometimes for many of them to get out and play because they are playing softball, basketball and some of the other sports, but they've done a good job of coming in ready to learn and improve. We're excited."

Excited for an opportunity to climb back to the top of the CCC standings after finishing second a year ago to National Trail.

"The league will be a toss up and I feel we are right there," Schultz said. "Trail doesn't have a team, and everyone else has most of their top golfers back, including us. It's a balanced conference."

What does concern Schultz, however, is the slow start his team has made since practice began just two weeks ago.

"I'd like to think that since we were second last year behind Trail that we should be right there," he said. "But we haven't shown it yet. Hopefully it comes around."

And if they do come around, watch out.