Thiemann’s work ethic fuels his goals

Triton golfer Jaden Thiemann has some very high expectations as he heads into his final high school tournament this week. The senior has already accomplished plenty during his career with the Cobras including being a six-time All-Conference selection and a four-time individual qualifier for the MSHSL state tournament, but he still has his eyes set on higher goals.

That’s no surprise to the people around him as they’ve seen Thiemann go from the kid that was always on the course to a section champion and commit to Savannah State University.

“He’s a good kid,” Triton golf coach Joe Hansen stated. “He likes to be out on the course and hitting balls, but he’s just a good kid all-around. He’s the type of kid that any coach would be proud to have.”

Thiemann’s path to success began at a very early age when he was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic stenosis at age 2. The condition makes the heart work harder in some situations because it involves a defect that has two flaps instead of three. Because of this, playing most sports is a major risk, but the game of golf was lax enough to pursue.

As soon as his parents put a golf club in his hand, Thiemann was off and running. He would usually be somewhere on the Dodge Country Club course working on his game and many people started to wonder if he actually had a home outside of the tee box.

“My father started me at a young age and I was out here every day,” Thiemann recalled. “I golfed in the sun. I golfed in the rain. Most of the time I was the only one on the course and everybody just thought I lived here. It was just something in me that just wanted to stay out here.”

When he wasn’t on the course, Thiemann was studying on how to be a better golfer. He would tune into The Golf Channel and see how some of the professionals would handle things in their high-pressure settings. That, along with a work ethic that sees him on the course for four to five hours a day, has helped him succeed.

“I believe I’m one of the kids that puts in the most work,” Thiemann declared. “I strive to be the best and that’s always been my mentality.”

Hansen has seen Thiemann’s approach first hand throughout the years. As a long-time assistant to the Triton golf program, he’s seen Jaden progress through his first year on varsity all the way up to his senior year, where he hopes to end it with a state championship.

“It’s more of the emotional and mental part of the game that’s helped him separate and grow over the years,” Hansen explained. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger over the years, but he’s also learned how to control his mental side more than anything.”

Outside of his play on the course, Thiemann has been paying it forward as he helps the younger generation of Cobras improve of the course of this season.