If glancing over the Wolfpack women’s golf roster doesn’t prove Brooke Baker’s leadership capabilities, her poise and confidence certainly do.
As the only upperclassman on the team, the Edmond, Okla. native has flourished in a unique situation. Last year’s squad featured four seniors, a stark contrast to the six freshmen that make up the majority of the group this season.
“This year it is kind of the opposite,” Baker said. “Last year was a lot more experienced group and I think I learned things from that last group. Now I’m teaching the freshmen about some different things, whether it has to do with helping them with their games or how to travel with a team and how to influence your teammates in a positive way.
“It’s been a lot of fun to have the new, youthful perspective on things.”
Although the makeup of the roster has drastically changed in the past year, Baker has learned to roll with the changes in her collegiate career. After spending freshman and sophomore campaigns as a member of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, she made the decision to compete in the ACC and traveling 1054 miles east of her hometown.
“The chance to come out here and play for this program and for the Wolfpack has been a blessing in itself,” Baker said. “The ACC is definitely stronger than Conference-USA and it was just a great opportunity for me to transfer out here to the East Coast. It’s really helped me to try and push myself to compete better and to represent the Wolfpack at a higher level.”
While Baker acknowledges she has developed greatly since arriving in Raleigh, she said the younger players have made a large maturity jump in their own rights.
“I’ve seen their games mature in terms of their strategy, but how they carry themselves off the golf course has also changed,” Baker said. “We’ve had a lot of laughs and it’s been a really fun year.”
One of the premier freshmen Baker has been able to help is Brittany Marchand. Along with fellow teammate Ana Menendez, Marchand closely follows Baker as one of the scoring average leaders for the Pack.
“She’s been a great leader and she has welcomed us,” Marchand said. “She has experience with what tournaments are like and some of the courses; she has great advice on how to play.”
When it comes to everyday life, age discrepancies are just the start of unique circumstances on the team. Marchand’s native Canada and Menendez’s native Mexico are a far cry from the southern American culture that Baker and most of team are accustomed to.
“It’s pretty funny at times,” Baker said. “There’ve been a lot of jokes with them making fun of American fast food and different things like that. They like to say that we have a lot of school spirit and it’s funny for me to think that while it’s normal here, wearing a college t-shirt in their own hometowns is just so uncommon.”
With several players hailing from different states and countries, coach Page Marsh represents the North Carolinian leadership on this year’s team. Marsh has watched Baker grow into a role that may pay major dividends when younger players eventually take over as the leaders.
“Our players have looked to her to be a senior and a leader,” Marsh said. “[Baker] brings a lot of strong qualities to our team. She’s a good student, a very good athlete, and has high goals for herself. I’m always amazed at how she has been able to manage a lot of things that life has brought her. She’s managed them with grace and I hope everyone can learn from that.”
When Baker departs State, she will leave a legacy of numerous positive effects for the Wolfpack program. For Marsh, Baker’s decision to transfer in 2009 was a matter of someone who wanted to make an impact by confronting the challenge of participating in the ACC.
“She has always had the skill set,” Marsh said. “She was open to a change and you can just tell when a person wants something more. That kind of energy and passion has been such a positive influence for our team now, and in the future.”
