Allison Bassett’s senior year at Canby High School was not what she would have ever expected — but it was still one she will never forget.
After a year contending with the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges, the 2021 graduate capped her final year in public education in the best possible way: helping lead the Canby Cougar girls golf team to a Three Rivers League conference title.
In the midst of a difficult year, the golf team patched together a storybook season: winning their first match after only one week of practice (“It was at that moment I realized what my team could do,” Bassett recalls, “and what I could do.”) and ending the season victorious in four of their last five.
“I credit the success to my team’s determination with the sport even throughout the pandemic,” she says. “After such a challenging period of time, winning the Three Rivers League title for golf was such a rewarding feeling. Covid-19 has presented many obstacles, so for our team to come out and win the title was very inspiring.”
The road to the championship was certainly no cakewalk, including district powerhouse West Linn.
“They have won many titles in the past years, so to end that streak was remarkable,” Bassett says. “I felt that my hard work and dedication had finally paid off once I held the trophy in my hands.”
Bassett grew up on the links and has been golfing since before first grade.
“I have been golfing since I was about 5 years old,” she says. “My dad loves the sport, and he introduced me to golf. I started at a young age with a golf coach who, to this day, still coaches me occasionally.”
Still, the sport didn’t really become a priority for her until her sophomore year of high school — just in time for the pandemic. The following year, Covid-19 cut her junior campaign short after only two weeks of practice.
But she made the most of the lockdown.
“With the season ending abruptly, I turned my confusion and frustration into motivation,” she recalls. “I used the extra time to play as many rounds of golf as I could. As I kept seeing my score improve, it motivated me.”
Bassett is also a part-time employee at Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City, which afforded her plenty of opportunities to play a few rounds.
Her involvement in Canby High’s Concert Choir and the Cantalinas were also a great outlet for dealing with the frustrations of the pandemic.
Bassett will continue her education at Oregon State University this fall. She plans to study marketing at the OSU College of Business.
“I do not have any current plans to continue my golf career,” she admits, “but am keeping my options open in case the opportunity arises!”
