JWCC Prairie State Profile: Illini West’s Deitrich uses right mental approach for on course success

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The physical tools Nolan Deitrich needs to excel at both golf and basketball are decidedly different.

The mental approach is remarkably the same.

Rolling in 4-foot par putt with a top finish at stake and hitting clutch free throws in a hostile gym will equally test your concentration and resolve.

“The pressure is something you can definitely relate to in both sports,” said Deitrich, the Illini West two-sport standout. “In golf, you really don’t get the pressure until you know the cutline for regionals or sectionals or state. So you have to be ready for it.”

Because of golf, he finds it easier to handle such situations on the court.

“Basketball is physically tougher,” Deitrich said. “It gets really physical during a game. But the mental side of golf compares to nothing.”

Dietrich knows staying in the moment and staying positive will be crucial this week and moving forward as the Illini West boys golf team enters postseason play. The Chargers tee it up Wednesday in the Class 1A Hamilton Regional at Deer Run Golf Course, and after a successful regular season capped with the championship of the Slug Milby Invitational last Saturday, the hope is big things lie ahead.

Dietrich discussed his game, his favorite course and the changes in his game with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for this week’s Prairie State Profile, brought to you by John Wood Community College.

Q: How confident are you in your game going into the postseason?

A: It’s getting to where I want it. I struggled somewhat throughout the middle of the season, but the last couple of weeks, it has kind of elevated into postseason mode.

Q: What about your game has you most encouraged right now?

A: Anywhere from fairway to green I’ve been scoring a little bit better. I’m usually fine off the tee.

Q: How did you get involved in golf?

A: I grew up, when I was in middle school, with an older brother who did high school golf. At that point, Illini West didn’t really have that many golfers. I felt like I wanted to play golf instead of football.

Q: What do you like about golf?

A: I like the complexity of the game. It’s a game that is so far away from perfect. Every shot is different. Your swing is so complex, and it takes years and years and years to even come close to perfection. Pros will tell you they’re not even close to perfection.

Q: Isn’t it amazing how golfers change their swing and some of them change it constantly?

A: I went through a big change with the help of Mark Christensen. It helped me going from my sophomore to my junior year when my score really dropped. I think if you get a professional like him to help you, you can see drastic change in your game.

Q: How did he help you improve?

A: It was really focusing on the full swing, anything from driver to irons. A lot of the short game and putting takes a lot, a lot of practice. I’d say your full swing is where he can help you the most. He helps countless high school and youth golfers.

Q: Do you have a favorite course around here?

A: I can tell you my least favorite, and that’s Deer Run. As for my favorite, I like playing Rolling Greens in Mount Sterling.

Q: What about that course do you like?

A: I like how it’s in pretty good shape year in and year out. I like how it’s a golf course. It’s not straightforward. It has some holes that can be forgiving. It’s not like Deer Run where you have to be close to perfect on every shot to even score.

Q: What’s your favorite hole anywhere?

A: I really don’t have one.

Q: If you’re going to score well, what do you have to do well?

A: One, obviously, you have to keep the ball in play. Limit penalty strokes. Two, limit three-putts and limit tough strokes around the green. You can still score around here if you’re not in the fairway every hole, but you have to be consistent on the greens with the putting and getting up-and-down when you need to.

Q: You play both golf and basketball. Do you enjoy one sport more than the other?

A: I enjoy basketball. I like the atmosphere and I like the sport. Golf is fun, but basketball is what I enjoy more. It’s a little easier mentally, but at the other end, it’s not easy to be one of the best. You have to work hard at both sports if you want to be good.

Q: When you’re not playing a sport, what do you do for fun?

A: Good question. I usually hang out with friends. If I’m usually outside, I’m playing golf.

Q: Have you given any thoughts of where you want to go to college or what you want to study?

A: I’ll have to make a decision if or what sport I want to play in college and what kind of college. I’m not sure on the whole athletic side, but I’m leaning toward some sort of degree in business at a four-year school.

Q: Illini West and Carthage have a history of success. What’s it like to be a part of that?

A: It’s such a small community you have connections to the 1990s and the Carthage days when they were a football powerhouse. Then you have connections and even went to the games with the 2008 and 2010 football teams that were so good. It’s a tight-knit community where you can have connections to every successful team and season there is.

Q: Both of your older brothers played sports at Illini West. How much fun has it been to have brothers who were athletes as well?

A: Growing up, knowing that you can step in these environments and these positions is something I always thought about. Senior year is kind of at the point where you have to live out the moment because these things are going to go away.

Q: What’s the best advice your brothers gave you?

A: My older brother, Will, was known to work hard and give 100 percent, whether that was in school or when he was playing track and football. So I’d say it’s to give 100 percent and work hard.