By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
MONTGOMERY – Destiny, according to statesman William Jennings Bryan, is not a matter of chance. He insisted it is a matter of choice. Not a thing to be waited for, a thing to be achieved. Bedford North Lawrence proved that while reaching its ultimate goal once again.
BNL had to wait, thanks to a two-day weather delay while a hurricane’s remnants spewed and swirled through, to reach its destiny. The Stars left nothing to chance. Powered by team depth and determination, they reached their ultimate goal, advancing to the final stage of the IHSAA state tournament series.
With five scores in the 80s – nothing spectacular, nothing disastrous or stressful – BNL finished second in the regional at Country Oaks on Monday. While the Stars came up short in their quest to repeat as regional champions, they qualified for the state championship for the third consecutive season. They know the way to Prairie View.
While No.13 Castle claimed the team crown with a score of 317, BNL shot a steady 332 in the 15-team field. The top three teams, plus the top three individuals who are not members of qualifying teams, advanced to the state finals on Friday and Saturday.
BNL’s impressive three-peat (matching the program’s state run from 1976-78) added to the legacy and tradition with its 11th state finals appearance.
“I’m excited,” BNL coach Kori Johnston said. “Ultimately, we just wanted to punch our ticket. Back-to-back victories would have been nice, but they definitely earned it, Castle played really well. We’ll settle for second.
“That’s awesome. I think we’re setting a standard, and I’d like to keep it going moving forward.”
The standard for this success has been consistency. Each of the scoring foursome had their moment, and freshman Emma Voris was a capable safety net if anyone faltered. None did. They had hot streaks during the round, avoided the huge mistake, and methodically worked their way past the challenges on the wet, long course.
Kinleigh Root set the pace with an 80 on the par-72 layout. She had three birdies (the first, sixth and ninth holes) on the front nine, then settled into a more reliable par routine on the back for a matching set of 40s.
Emma Endris, a freshman who seems unflappable, fired a 1-over 37 on the front (with a birdie on the third), then settled into a bogey rhythm to finish with 82. Sammie Nusbaum, effervescent as always, had two birdies while posting 83, and senior Ellie Horton rebounded from a tough opening nine with a 40 on the back to card 87. Voris added an 88.
“I really wanted to go back to state,” Horton said. “Getting there, we can’t do that if we don’t play well. It’s a big thing for us. It was our goal this year.”
Castle’s difference was top-end firepower as star Ashley Kirkland (a two-time state runner-up) was the individual medalist with a 2-under 70, and Leena Rice added a 75. Evansville Memorial claimed the final team spot with 361.
Advancing individuals included Gibson Southern’s Haley Hughes (76), North Posey’s Mackenzie Mills (80) and Terre Haute South’s Avery Cassell (81).
Experience was the other BNL factor. Root, Horton and Nusbaum were all members of last year’s regional championship.
“Regional is everything,” Root said. “I think of it as this team needs me. I just tried to it keep on track. I kept telling myself the team was depending on me, so it’s not just me having a bad round. I’m scared to mess up so bad. I tried not to think about it.
“I’m not happy with it, but I’m satisfied. I think it’s cool to keep that tradition going. If we didn’t, it would feel very different and very sad.”
“We had to work at it,” Nusbaum said. “We showed up today.”
Mitchell’s Anna Sowders posted a 96.
BNL will compete in a state field of 18 teams, with no cut after the first round.
IHSAA REGIONAL
Monday at Country Oaks
