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Vindicator Fall Athletes: Jacinta Pikunas
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The more you throw at Jacinta Pikunas, the better she gets.
She actually prefers balancing being an AP and honors student with being at the top of her golf game to the summer season.
“It’s weird to say, but in the fall I like having a couple things going on that I can push out of and get fully into something else,” Pikunas said. “It helps me to get fully in-gear into something else and concentrate instead of the summer when you’re relaxed and laid back. In the fall, I’m constantly on a tough schedule and I know that, so I’m pushing myself to be 100-percent where I am all the time.”
Living in the moment works for the junior. She’s made three consecutive state tournament appearances and her most recent trip to Columbus, she was the Division I individual runner-up, shooting 149. It’s her best performance at state thus far.
“To finish as runner-up was a high point for my season,” Pikunas said. “Looking at my summer and fall season as a whole, it was one of my biggest accomplishments throughout my career. I think the more experience you have, the better chances you’ll have at getting the gold. I think I’ve learned a lot over the past couple years of being at states and now in my third year coming in.
“I knew what to expect from how to prepare — not just the course and your club selection. You kind of know what to practice beforehand. It’s also the mental game and how you want to approach coming in the tournament.”
Pikunas credits her father, along with Boardman coach Brian Terlesky for her success.
“[Terlesky] has been a great help all throughout the season and my summer season,” she said. “He’s always there if I need an extra set of eyes besides my dad. He’s there for support and he was great at states walking with me, supporting me and helping me.
“I want to thank my parents for their endless support and I want to thank God for giving me the talent to play the game.”