The swing was impressive for an 8-year-old.

Two years later, in a tournament at Hank's Swank Par 3 Golf Course, she parred her first hole, placed second overall, won a putting contest and was second for longest drive.

"I was real happy with that, continued to play golf as my main sport and have really liked it ever since."

Today, the Clovis East High senior is The Bee's co-Player of the Year while being recognized largely for a body of work that ranks with the best in Central Section history.

"I've immensely enjoyed watching her going about her game," Timberwolves coach Omar Hemaidan says. "Clovis East golf was important to her, and being a leader was important to her. It's been awesome having someone with that much talent who other girls look up to."

Sodersten, headed to Fresno State on a full scholarship, shares the POY award with Clovis North's Alanna Loyd.

Sodersten's four-year highlights at Clovis East:

-- Four-year Bee All-Star.

-- Four-time All-Tri River Athletic Conference, including MVP as a junior.

-- Four-time top-six finisher at the Central Section individual tournament championship, including second as a sophomore.

-- Set the Madera Municipal Golf Course record for a female prep that still stands with a 66, and averaged a TRAC-record 69.3 per 18 holes.

-- Len Ross Amateur 12-14 age group champion in 2009 and overall winner in 2011.

-- Fresno City Amateur champion in 2010.

-- The only section female golfer to qualify for both the USGA Junior Amateur Championships and the USGA Women's Amateur.

This year, Sodersten rolled the dice and began gearing her swing for college.

She still averaged a TRAC second-best 36.8 per nine holes, placed seventh at the section individual tournament and tied Clovis West's Camille Orito for the section's best representation with a 78 despite horrendous weather and course conditions at the Southern California Championships at The Golf Club at Rancho California in Murrieta.

"It was a risk," Sodersten says regarding her swing adjustments. "But I'm happy with the results in my game and I mentally know this is going to get me to the next level. I had to sacrifice and I'm glad I did it."

Carrying a 3.76 grade-point average, she will also continue to play badminton this spring at Clovis East, where she was a Bee All-Star as a junior and has helped lead the Timberwolves to two section titles.