Independence’s bid to return to the state tournament ended at the Division II district competition at Tam O’Shanter Hills Golf Course on Tuesday. The Blue Devils, the defending Division II state champion, finished third overall behind Cardinal Mooney and Laurel. Only the top two teams advanced to the state tournament.
Orange finished 10th as a team and Kirtland’s Cici Anness placed among the top 15 golfers.
“We almost did it,” said Independence coach Karl Schuld. “Emma McGreal finished fifth and the team finished third. It just wasn’t good enough today but what improvement from the kids throughout the year.”
Mooney finished with a 370, Laurel came in with a 371 and Independence shot a 182.
McGreal fired an 85 to lead the Blue Devils.
“She played well all day long,” Schuld said. “She had a couple of awkward holes that cost her a better round but she came so far this year. At sectionals last year, she shot a 112. That shows you how much you can improve over one year with hard work.”
Morgan Pascarella and Allie Ksiazka finished 17th and tied for 18th, respectively.
Pascarella shot a 96 while Ksiazka carded a 97.
“Allie and Morgan aren’t quite to the point where they want to be,” Schuld said. “Again, where they were and where they are now it’s just amazing how much hard work pays off.”
Alexis Kovesdi shot a career-low 104 for the Blue Devils, who will return their top four scorers next season and add several promising golfers from their junior program.
“We’re in a really good place,” Schuld said. “We have some good young golfers to add to what we already have. I’m really very excited about the future of Independence golf.”
Independence will lose senior Hannah Botzman, who finished with a 115.
“Hannah fought hard all day long and gave it everything she could,” Schuld said. “She’s a big reason we scored so well at sectionals last week. I felt bad for her being my lone senior. She was kind of bummed, but I’m so glad she came out and golfed her senior year.”
Orange finished 10th with 422 strokes.
Senior Emma Briskin led the Lions with an 89, junior Jesseca Hudson-Turpin finished with a 104 and junior Noelle Laisure carded a 111. Junior Leah Laisure and senior Casey Hart both came in with a 118.
Kirtland junior Cici Anness finished 14th overall with a 92.
Dist. Tournament: (NE) Division II Girls – Tam O’Shanter Hills
Qualifiers: Top 2 teams and 2 individuals not on a qualifying team
Team Place: * Indicates qualifying team
1. Mooney* 370 (Hadley Spielvogel 82, Jayne Bernard 91, Alexandria Patrone 98, Alyssa Rapp 107, Grace Ogden 99); 2. Laurel* 371 (Jami Morris 74, Grace Durdle 98, Madeleine Bee 102, Emily Axner 97, Lauren Nassif 107); 3. Independence 382; 4. Northwestern 387; 5. SVSM 409; 6. Beaumont 409; 7. Woodridge 412; 8. Champion 412; 9. Lakeview 420; 10. Orange 422; 11. Hubbard 430; 12. Canton C.C. 462; 13. Columbiana 0; 14. Elyria Cath. 0; 15. Keystone 0; 16. Springfield 0; 17. Crestview 0; 18. Rittman 0; 19. Salem 0; 20. Bristol 0; 21. Kirtland 0; 22. Luth. West 0; 23. Andrews Osborne Academy 0.
Individual Scores: * Indicates qualifying individual
1. Jami Morris(Laurel) 74; 2. Sam Webb*(Luth. West) 77; 3. Jelena Lainovic*(Andrews Osborne Academy) 81; 4. Hadley Spielvogel(Mooney) 82; 5. Emma McGreal(Independence) 85; 6. Allison St.Clair(Northwestern) 87; 7. Paige Sexstella (Elyria Cath.) 89, Emma Briskin(Orange) 89; 9. Kara Leatherman (Rittman) 90, Madison Horvath (Springfield) 90; 11. Lauren Bangasser(Beaumont) 91, Nikki Selzer (Keystone) 91, Jayne Bernard(Mooney) 91; 14. Cici Anness (Kirtland) 92; 15. Natalie Noble(Beaumont) 94; 16. Julia Hofacker(SVSM) 95; 17. Morgan Pascarella(Independence) 96; 18. Reagan Schick(Lakeview) 97, Allie Ksiazka(Independence) 97, Emily Axner(Laurel) 97; 21. Grace Durdle(Laurel) 98, Nyomi Morris(Beaumont) 98, Joren Rickard(Northwestern) 98, Jacqelyn Adler(Hubbard) 98, Alexandria Patrone(Mooney) 98; 26. Sophia Nicholas(Lakeview) 99, Grace Ogden(Mooney) 99; 28. Karlie Mowrer(Northwestern) 100, Kayla Kearns(Woodridge) 100, Avery Rickenbacher(Woodridge) 100, Amanda Trinckes(Hubbard) 100, Kylie Gardner(Champion) 100; 33. Sarahkathryn Henderson(SVSM) 101; 34. Allison Smith(Champion) 102, Madeleine Bee(Laurel) 102, Madelyn Wechter (Elyria Cath.) 102, Tamar Walton(Northwestern) 102; 38. Katie Webb (Bristol) 103; 39. Ariana Rodi (Crestview) 104, Jesseca Hudson-Turpin(Orange) 104, Alexis Kovesdi(Independence) 104, Julie Peace(Champion) 104; 43. Halle Kalaman(SVSM) 105, Hayley Roenigk(Woodridge) 105, Kelly Hutton (Salem) 105; 46. Sydney Huffman(Champion) 106; 47. Alyssa Rapp(Mooney) 107, Liz Presley(Woodridge) 107, Lauren Nassif(Laurel) 107; 50. Emily Steel(SVSM) 108, Kaitlin Kemp(SVSM) 108; 52. Kaitlin Belden(Canton C.C.) 109; 53. Reagan Wesig(Woodridge) 110; 54. Noelle Laisure(Orange) 111; 55. Kelsey Lucas(Lakeview) 112, Kristen Lucas(Lakeview) 112, Taylor Adams(Canton C.C.) 112, Jessica Himes (Columbiana) 112; 59. Hannah Botzman(Independence) 113; 60. Noelle Trobek(Hubbard) 114; 61. Casey Hart(Orange) 118, Allison Femia(Hubbard) 118, Leah Laisure(Orange) 118; 64. Allyson Wenger(Champion) 119; 65. Katie Vranich(Canton C.C.) 120; 66. Katie Bonar(Canton C.C.) 121; 67. Kaileen Stevens(Lakeview) 122; 68. Elle Harper(Canton C.C.) 125; 69. Lena Dunkerley(Hubbard) 126, Katherine Foerg(Beaumont) 126; 71. Olivia Panichi(Beaumont) 134.
