Shaelynn Feuerstein already made history last year.
The New Holstein golfer became the first girl to be named second-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference for boys golf after reaching sectionals as a junior. She plays on the boys team because New Holstein doesn’t offer a girls team.
Heading into her senior year, the three-sport athlete had dreams of making state and first-team all-EWC, but Feuerstein realized quickly in fall it might not be so easy.
While playing volleyball to start the school year, Feuerstein became fatigued easily and knew something was wrong.
After seeking an answer, it was discovered Feuerstein had developed an insulinoma, a form or tumor, on her pancreas which caused her blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels.
The condition normally presents in people in their 40s or 60s. Feuerstein’s blood sugar, which should be around 100-140, dropped to 20-30.
Feuerstein, who missed almost all of volleyball and played one game in basketball under strict supervision, had her eyes focused on golf in the spring.
“My mentality was golf was my favorite sport and has been my whole life,” Feuerstein said. “I wanted to overcome what happened to me and still succeed.”
Feuerstein underwent surgery to remove the tumor over Thanksgiving break and didn’t return to school until after Christmas break.
The bright side was doctors told her she could resume athletic activity in April, right when golf season was set to begin.
That plan was thrown for a loop due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the spring sports season was first put on hold before later being canceled.
“It’s pretty sad because of my health problems I wasn’t able to play my other sports,” Feuerstein said.
Golf runs in the Feuerstein family, with her brother and father having both played for the Huskies and the golf bags the team uses being donated after Feuerstein’s grandfather’s death.
“My dad taught me how to golf,” Feuerstein said. “When my grandpa passed away we donated golf bags with his initials so it’s always been about the Huskies team.”
While it was a setback, Feuerstein understood it was for the best. She is more susceptible to the coronavirus because of her recent surgery.
“I had hope we could compete but obviously better to get through this with limited contact,” Feuerstein said.
New Holstein golf coach Peter Hofmeister remembered when Feuerstein first joined the team.
He played Feuerstein, who was the only girl on the team when she started as a freshman, in a varsity event as a sophomore but wasn’t worried.
“Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates but she took it on,” Hofmeister said. “She wasn’t afraid despite being a girl on a boys team. Helped she beat a lot of them, too.”
Feuerstein wasn’t about to let fear stop her from reaching her goals.
“It’s very intimidating at first but after the first hole it gets easier,” Feuerstein said of playing with boys. “The boys might not think I can succeed but I put my mind to the task.”
“She has a unique sense of determination,” Hofmeister said. “She has a fire, which is the first syllable of her last name so it’s fitting. (The boys) respected her because she was good enough and earned it.”
Turns out it’s even a bit inspiring, as there were to be three girls on the New Holstein team this season, Hofmeister said.
Next year Feuerstein will compete for NCAA Division III Carroll University, where her brother played, as part of the women’s team.
“I’m excited for the experience,” Feuerstein said. “Never played on a girls team before so will be a cool experience.”
Despite having never competed as a senior, Hofmeister holds Feuerstein in high regard.
“Anybody who has coached a select amount of time will have athletes willing to put in the work and really stand out, and she’s one of them,” Hofmeister said.
Tom Dombeck is a staffer for the Sheboygan Press and the Herald Times Reporter, both part of the USA Today Network. Contact him at tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Tom_Dombeck.