Elk Lake pair birdie honors

They couldn’t sneak up on anyone this y

Elk Lake Sophomore Chloe Sipe and Junior Taegan Mills pictured from the 2018 season were named to the All Region team for 2019. PHOTO BY RYAN KIPAR

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A year after leading Elk Lake to the PIAA golf team championships expectations were high for Elk Lake’s Chloe Sipe and Taegan Mills and they each overcame their own personal battle to be named to the Scranton Times All Region golf team with Sipe repeating as Performer of the Year.

Sipe began the year with the low local score at the Jackman Memorial tournament. While her game showed improvement due to increased strength Sipe admitted she sometimes battled within her own head.

“Sometimes I just put too much pressure on myself and over thought things,” said Sipe.

After finishing third at the District II Class A Championships Sipe saved her best for the next round at the PIAA Eastern Regional capturing the championship.

Sipe finished ninth at the PIAA championships rebounding from a rough first day and a tough stretch in round two. The following day she helped lead the Lady Warriors to a fourth-place finish in the team championships.

Mills overcame a tough offseason in which she was diagnosed with chiari malformation. The ailment is a result of brain tissue extending into her spinal column. The developmental condition had increased its intensity during the 2018 season and became worse after the season.

After brain surgery in April Mills waited patiently until June when she resumed swinging the golf clubs.

While rounding into form free from constant pain Mills helped lead Elk Lake to the District title and the fourth-place finish at states.  She also finished fourth at the individual District championships missing the cut for Regionals by a few strokes.