Not enough is said about Snake River River Snakes.

Seriously though, a river of snakes? Name a more intimidating high school mascot anywhere this side of Malad.

The Snake River River Snakes vs. the Marsh Valley Valley Marshes? Advantage, River Snakes.

Wampus Cats? Trojans? Bulldogs?

Snakes, Snakes, Snakes.

Officially known as the Panthers, those feisty felines often channel their inner River Snake when the fur starts flying.

Or the baseballs. Or softballs. But especially the golf balls.

Because the Snake River golf team plays its home events on the banks of the Snake River itself.

Snake practices and plays on the Blackfoot Municipal Golf Course, which borders the Snake River. Portions of holes 11, 13, and all of 12 work upstream against the flow.

If a righty duck hooks one hard enough, or a lefty gets slicey enough, they can send a Callaway to swim with the fishes. And the snakes.

Don’t go counting on the Snake River golf team to do such a thing, however. This is a team that finished second at the 4A state tournament one year ago in a two-team fight against Kimberly.

The Snake River boys placed three players in the top 10 at state on the Clear Lakes Country Club in Buhl, led by Crew Albertson (4), Boeden Burke (5) and Brogan Katseanes (T8).

Considering Clear Lakes is 20 minutes away from Kimberly High, 2025 was basically a home game for the Bulldogs. Even with that advantage and the state’s then-top-ranked 4A player (Wyatt Williams), the Bulldogs edged Snake by iust 15 shots.

Further, Albertson, Burke and Katseanes are all back for another go this spring, and all three are scheduled to tee it up at the 4A District 4 Championships in Preston on Monday.

“We’ve had a longer season than normal with a lot of good weather and we’re feeling pretty good about districts,” Albertson said. “We’ve got solid guys who can all go out and put up a good score. We’re feeling pretty confident.”

Remove the River Snakes from the equation and Albertson has a difficult time pinning down which of the other three is team to beat. Marsh Valley, American Falls or Bear Lake?

“Team to beat probably American Falls, maybe. I dunno,” he said, hemming and hawing. “Any of those other three could easily have a good day and win it.”

With just one guaranteed state berth from District 5, the team that takes the trophy out of Preston will have a state date in Eagle at the Eagle Hills Golf Course.

Were Snake to earn that trip to the Treasure Valley, Snake River coach Jeb Harrison will have Albertson, Burke and Katseanes plus a stable of players playing better than bogey golf, including Grady Mayfield, Tade Schofield, Hunter Lee and Taft Van Orden.

“At state it’s anyone’s game, honestly,” Burke said. “Anything could happen. It’s still golf at the end of the day, and we’re not too stressed. We just have to go out and play our golf and we have a good chance.”

The Snake River girls team did not qualify for the 2025 tournament, but senior Isabell Cagle says this year’s team is in a good place. Considering the River Snakes placed third at the Snake River Shootout in 30 mph winds at Blackfoot GC last week, Cagle believes she and her teammates are ready for whatever the Preston course may offer.

“I’m excited to see what I happens,” she said. “I love my teammates. On district day if we go out and play our best, ultimately that’s all that matters. When it’s a nice day and me and my friends go play a round of golf, I just love that. I love being out there playing golf.”

Regardless of how the 2026 season ends for Snake, five seniors on the boys side and Cagle on the girls side will have played their final rounds as high schoolers.

Burke projects to be the only senior on the 2027 spring roster. Relaxed and optimistic beyond his years, he offers a prediction.

“I think Snake River golf is heading in a good direction,” he said. “We have some good freshmen coming up, so it should be a good year next year.”