Warsaw Ends 2 Strokes Shy Of State
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
KENDALLVILLE -ÊWarsaw's girls golf team knew the results of the regional before the scores were announced. After shooting a 180 on the back nine at Cobblestone Golf Course to put themselves back in the hunt to advance out of the East Noble Regional, the Tigers waited anxiously for the scores of the final three teams (Fremont, Bishop Dwenger, and DeKalb) to come in.
But when all was said and done, DeKalb edged the Tigers by two strokes and crushed Warsaw's dreams of becoming the first girls golf team to go to state.
After nine holes, the Tigers, who have always placed last in the regional, sat in fifth place, 14 strokes behind leader Fremont.
Once the Warsaw squad finished with a 373, all that was left to do was wait for the rest of the scores to come in.
Warsaw's Kerri Wrobel shot an 84, Lara Reed 98, Erin Elliott 101, Jaci Thallemer 93 and Abby Schori 98.
"We're gonna make some people nervous, that's for sure," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said at the time. "I think we've really scared some teams here today."
When the scores from the No. 5 golfers from DeKalb, Fremont and Bishop Dwenger were written on the scorecards, Warsaw was still in the hunt. Two of the golfers had recorded 50s.
"In years past we've always been last," said Turner. "Now we are playing for a chance to go to state. In 30 minutes we will either be ecstatic or I'll have five girls crying. These girls play with a lot of heart.
"We beat Columbia City, Goshen and Homestead. I'm really happy right now, but in a little while I might be devastated."
The next round of scores came in, and the No. 4 golfers scored a 46, a 48, and a 44. The Tigers were still in it.
With each score that was written on the board, Warsaw got a little more nervous. The girls held their breath and kept hope alive. They held hands and prayed. They dared to think they could maybe - just maybe - pull off the upset and advance to the state finals.
"Sometimes it's easier if you are far behind or far ahead," said Turner. "But being this close is tough."
Even after the No. 2 and No. 3 golfers' scores came in, the Tigers were still in the hunt.
But when the final golfers came in to report their scores with big smiles on their faces, Warsaw knew.
Whispers ran through the crowd that DeKalb had beaten Warsaw by just one or two strokes, but the Tigers hoped by some small chance that those whispers were false. Even so, some of the girls fought back tears, afraid of what they were going to hear when the final results were revealed.
Team scores were announced, starting with sixth place.
Columbia City, 359.
Homestead, 377.
Then everyone held their breath as the fourth-place team was announced.
Warsaw, 373.
The Tigers breathed a collective sigh as they heard that DeKalb had thwarted their comeback by just two strokes.
"This is what you play for," said Turner with a heavy-hearted sigh. "If it didn't hurt, it would mean they didn't care. I'm gonna have to give the speech of my life on the bus ride home.
"The seniors gave all they've got to give today, and we played well."
In the end, DeKalb (371), Bishop Dwenger (362) and Fremont (359) advanced to the state finals. Sarah Sparks of East Noble (78), Rachel Meikle of Carroll (79) and Heather Klejnot of New Haven (83) advance to the individual state finals. Wrobel tied for fourth with Brooke Klejnot of New Haven in the same category.
EAST NOBLE REGIONAL
Cobblestone Golf Course
Team results - 1. Fremont 359, 2. Bishop Dwenger 362, 3. DeKalb 371, 4. Warsaw 373, 5. Homestead 377, 6. Columbia City 381, 7. Goshen 384, 8. Jay County 390, 9. Bishop Luers 420
Fremont scores -ÊLindsay Hohenberger 43-41- 84, Sarah Tilbury 47-71-88, Amber Smith 42-51-93, Emona Vaughn 48-46-94, Carrie Barnhart 44-51-95
Bishop Dwenger scores -ÊLauren Gant 42-38-80, Erica Dick 46-44-90, Jolene Knuth 49-47-96, Sarah Hughes 46-50-96, Kelly Moll 50-50-100
DeKalb scores - Vanessa Weimer 46-40-86, Cassie Thompson 47-46-93, Autumn Bok 45-50-95, Jana VerHage 47-50-97, Emily Blackwell 47-50-97
Warsaw scores -ÊKerri Wrobel 40-44-84, Lara Reed 47-51-98, Erin Elliott 50-51-101, Jaci Thallemer 49-44-93, Abby Schori 53-45-98
Medalists -Ê1. Sarah Sparks, East Noble, 78; 2. Rachel Meikle, Carroll, 79; 3. Lauren Gant, Bishop Dwenger, 80; 4. Heather Klejnot, New Haven, 83
Local individual - Ashley Ward (Wawasee) 114
Low medalists not on an advancing team -Ê1. Sarah Sparks, East Noble, 78; 2. Rachel Meikle, Carroll, 79; 3. Heather Klejnot, New Haven, 83; 4. (tie). Kerri Wrobel, Warsaw 84, Brooke Klejnot, New Haven 84
*Top three teams and top three individuals not on an advancing team advance to the state finals at Legends Golf Course in Franklin. [[In-content Ad]]
KENDALLVILLE -ÊWarsaw's girls golf team knew the results of the regional before the scores were announced. After shooting a 180 on the back nine at Cobblestone Golf Course to put themselves back in the hunt to advance out of the East Noble Regional, the Tigers waited anxiously for the scores of the final three teams (Fremont, Bishop Dwenger, and DeKalb) to come in.
But when all was said and done, DeKalb edged the Tigers by two strokes and crushed Warsaw's dreams of becoming the first girls golf team to go to state.
After nine holes, the Tigers, who have always placed last in the regional, sat in fifth place, 14 strokes behind leader Fremont.
Once the Warsaw squad finished with a 373, all that was left to do was wait for the rest of the scores to come in.
Warsaw's Kerri Wrobel shot an 84, Lara Reed 98, Erin Elliott 101, Jaci Thallemer 93 and Abby Schori 98.
"We're gonna make some people nervous, that's for sure," Warsaw coach Bob Turner said at the time. "I think we've really scared some teams here today."
When the scores from the No. 5 golfers from DeKalb, Fremont and Bishop Dwenger were written on the scorecards, Warsaw was still in the hunt. Two of the golfers had recorded 50s.
"In years past we've always been last," said Turner. "Now we are playing for a chance to go to state. In 30 minutes we will either be ecstatic or I'll have five girls crying. These girls play with a lot of heart.
"We beat Columbia City, Goshen and Homestead. I'm really happy right now, but in a little while I might be devastated."
The next round of scores came in, and the No. 4 golfers scored a 46, a 48, and a 44. The Tigers were still in it.
With each score that was written on the board, Warsaw got a little more nervous. The girls held their breath and kept hope alive. They held hands and prayed. They dared to think they could maybe - just maybe - pull off the upset and advance to the state finals.
"Sometimes it's easier if you are far behind or far ahead," said Turner. "But being this close is tough."
Even after the No. 2 and No. 3 golfers' scores came in, the Tigers were still in the hunt.
But when the final golfers came in to report their scores with big smiles on their faces, Warsaw knew.
Whispers ran through the crowd that DeKalb had beaten Warsaw by just one or two strokes, but the Tigers hoped by some small chance that those whispers were false. Even so, some of the girls fought back tears, afraid of what they were going to hear when the final results were revealed.
Team scores were announced, starting with sixth place.
Columbia City, 359.
Homestead, 377.
Then everyone held their breath as the fourth-place team was announced.
Warsaw, 373.
The Tigers breathed a collective sigh as they heard that DeKalb had thwarted their comeback by just two strokes.
"This is what you play for," said Turner with a heavy-hearted sigh. "If it didn't hurt, it would mean they didn't care. I'm gonna have to give the speech of my life on the bus ride home.
"The seniors gave all they've got to give today, and we played well."
In the end, DeKalb (371), Bishop Dwenger (362) and Fremont (359) advanced to the state finals. Sarah Sparks of East Noble (78), Rachel Meikle of Carroll (79) and Heather Klejnot of New Haven (83) advance to the individual state finals. Wrobel tied for fourth with Brooke Klejnot of New Haven in the same category.
EAST NOBLE REGIONAL
Cobblestone Golf Course
Team results - 1. Fremont 359, 2. Bishop Dwenger 362, 3. DeKalb 371, 4. Warsaw 373, 5. Homestead 377, 6. Columbia City 381, 7. Goshen 384, 8. Jay County 390, 9. Bishop Luers 420
Fremont scores -ÊLindsay Hohenberger 43-41- 84, Sarah Tilbury 47-71-88, Amber Smith 42-51-93, Emona Vaughn 48-46-94, Carrie Barnhart 44-51-95
Bishop Dwenger scores -ÊLauren Gant 42-38-80, Erica Dick 46-44-90, Jolene Knuth 49-47-96, Sarah Hughes 46-50-96, Kelly Moll 50-50-100
DeKalb scores - Vanessa Weimer 46-40-86, Cassie Thompson 47-46-93, Autumn Bok 45-50-95, Jana VerHage 47-50-97, Emily Blackwell 47-50-97
Warsaw scores -ÊKerri Wrobel 40-44-84, Lara Reed 47-51-98, Erin Elliott 50-51-101, Jaci Thallemer 49-44-93, Abby Schori 53-45-98
Medalists -Ê1. Sarah Sparks, East Noble, 78; 2. Rachel Meikle, Carroll, 79; 3. Lauren Gant, Bishop Dwenger, 80; 4. Heather Klejnot, New Haven, 83
Local individual - Ashley Ward (Wawasee) 114
Low medalists not on an advancing team -Ê1. Sarah Sparks, East Noble, 78; 2. Rachel Meikle, Carroll, 79; 3. Heather Klejnot, New Haven, 83; 4. (tie). Kerri Wrobel, Warsaw 84, Brooke Klejnot, New Haven 84
*Top three teams and top three individuals not on an advancing team advance to the state finals at Legends Golf Course in Franklin. [[In-content Ad]]