Pargas signs with Bellevue golf program

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Maryville senior Alayna Pargas signed with Bellevue University on Wednesday at the Hound Pound. Pictured, front from left; Janis Pargas, Alayna Pargas, Hadley Pargas, Brenda Ricks; back; Greg Pargas, Larry Ricks and Mike Habermehl.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Wednesday was a long time in the making for the most accomplished girls golfer in Spoofhound history as Maryville senior Alayna Pargas made her signing with Bellevue University public.

“I’ve been playing golf for as long as I can remember,” Pargas said. “I’ve always really enjoyed it and it has been a fun part of my life. … Probably about sophomore year, I decided that I wanted to play collegiately and that was something that I wanted to work towards.”

Pargas put the finishing touches on her high-school career this fall with the best state finish in program history. Her career also included a district championship and Midland Empire Conference championship. She also led the team to a district title.

Bellevue finished 14th as a team at last year’s NAIA National Championships. Pargas is excited for the success of the golf team in addition to the psychology program she intends to pursue her degree in.

“I love the coaches, I love the facilities,” Pargas said. “From the first time that I visited, it just felt so comfortable and I knew that I was going to like it there. … The psychology program seems really strong and I think that I will learn a lot at Bellevue.”

Spoofhound coaches Brenda and Larry Ricks attended Wednesday’s ceremony along with Mike Habermehl, who runs the Northwest Missouri Junior Tournament Series during the summer.

“I think that we knew this was coming when she was a freshman,” Brenda Ricks laughed. “It is very exciting for her and I am excited to see her take that next step at the next level.”

“It has been exciting to be able to be able to watch her improve her game every year,” Larry Ricks added.