Lemek caps off perfect season

Doniphan-Trumbull's Danielle Lemek and the Kearney Catholic girls golf team could make the New England Patriots jealous.

Lemek and the Stars each successfully capped off an undefeated season Tuesday at the Class C State Tournament at Indianhead Golf Club.

Lemek, a freshman with the first-year Cardinals program, equaled her first-round 76 in cold and wet conditions. Her two-day total of 152 bested Syracuse sophomore Steph Rodgers by nine strokes.

Boone Central's Brooke Bolin (165), Crofton's Molly Zavadil (168) and St. Paul's Shelby Stone (175) rounded out the top five.

Lemek said she tried to limit the effects of the weather on her game.

"I tried to block it out, but once in a while I still got cold and couldn't grip my club," she said.

Capping off a freshman season in which she was never beaten left Lemek searching for the right words to describe what the accomplishment means to her.

"I don't know (how it feels) yet," she said. "I'll probably realize in a couple of days that ’hey, I did something special.'"

After starting the day with a bogey, Lemek parred each hole until No. 9 except for No. 3, which she birdied. Her lone hiccup of the day came with a double bogey on No. 12, but she responded by playing the final six holes 3-over to easily clinch the title.

"She's played enough junior tournaments and other tournaments that she's been in these (weather) conditions before," Doniphan-Trumbull coach Chris Seberger said. "She accepts it and knows that everyone plays in the same conditions.

"Today I wanted her to play a smart game. The conditions weren't helpful, but you can't worry about what everyone else's score is. You do the best you can."

The conditions included a steady rain in the afternoon and temperatures that stayed in the 40s.

"It was brutal," Seberger said. "There was no wind, but it was so wet. Water was flying everywhere when you swung a club."

The rain and cold obviously didn't affect Kearney Catholic.

The Stars cut 21 strokes off of their first-round score to post a two-day total of 753 and turn a close team competition into a 36 shot win over runner-up Minden.

"I think they finally relaxed," Kearney Catholic coach Melissa Prasch said. "We played a sound game in some horrible conditions. They remained positive all day, and that's half of winning."

Having won every meet this year didn't add pressure to the Star for the state tournament.

"I feel that the girls felt motivated to remain undefeated," Prasch said. "We were confident."

Allie VenJohn finished ninth with a 180 to lead the Stars while McKenzie Marshall tied for 10th with a 182.

Crofton (791) finished two strokes behind Minden. Columbus Scotus (799) and Grand Island Central Catholic (818) also finished in the top five.

While GICC saw its score go up by 16 strokes from the first round, coach Dee Hanssen said it was a valuable experience.

"We got here, and that was our main goal," she said. "We're still really young and we lose only one senior (Kylee Falherty).

"We learned that we have to be better prepared for inclement conditions like this. We will go out and golf all nine (holes) on rainy days instead of chip and putt."

Hanssen said playing at state will be good motivation for the Crusaders.

"We know what we have to work on now," she said. "Everyone wants to work hard during the summer. I think we'll be here (again next year). We'll have a chance to win it."

Doniphan-Trumbull finished seventh (871) and Broken Bow was 12th (903).



Class C

At Indianhead Golf Club, Grand Island

Team Scoring

Kearney Catholic 387-366-753, Minden 396-393-789, Crofton 394-397-791, Columbus Scotus 398-401-799, Grand Island Central Catholic 401-417-818, Norfolk Catholic 415-411-826, Doniphan-Trumbull 433-438-871, Tri County 440-437-877, Omaha Brownell-Talbot 450-432-882, Bridgeport 451-444-895, Pierce 465-437-902, Broken Bow 456-447-903, Johnson County Central 462-472-934, Kimball 473-477-950, Chadron 481-500-981.

Individual Results

1, Danielle Lemek, Doniphan-Trumbull     76-76-152

2, Steph Rodgers, Syracuse     80-81-161

3, Brooke Bolin, Boone Central    85-80-165

4, Molly Zavadil, Crofton     86-82-168

5, Shelby Stone, St. Paul     91-84-175

6 (tie), Erika Larose, Omaha Brownell-Talbot     88-89-177

6 (tie), Danielle Kuchar, Humphrey St. Francis    89-88-177

8, Isabella Baldacci, Norfolk Catholic     87-91-178

9, Allie VenJohn, Kearney Catholic     93-87-180

10 (tie), Amy Swearer, Lincoln Lutheran     84-98-182

10 (tie), Allison Exstrom, Minden     90-92-182

10 (tie), McKenzie Marshall, Kearney Catholic     90-92-182

10 (tie), JaCee Pilkington, Bayard     91-91-182

14, Claire Kozisek, Ainsworth     98-86-184

15, Jacy Gasper, Columbus Scotus     89-97-186

Ellen Baldwin, Kearney Catholic     97-90-187

Allison Krueger, Gibbon     94-94-188

Morgan Kristensen, Minden     97-94-191

Kayla Berns, Broken Bow     96-97-193

Brittney Dinkel, Pierce     102-94-196

Liz Zabawa, Columbus Scotus     104-95-199

Kaylee Faltys, Tekamah-Herman     95-105-200

Shelby Wetovick, Fullerton     102-98 -200

Kylee Flaherty, Grand Island Central Catholic    98-103-201

Emily Wright, Bridgeport     100-102-202

Mikayla Northup, Grand Island Central Catholic     102-100-202

Jeannie Kuskie, Perkins County     104-98-202

Courtney Foxhoven, Crofton     103-100-203

Laynee Woodward, Minden     101-103-204

McKayla Vlasin, Perkins County     99-106-205

Schalise Vancura, Columbus Scotus     99-106-205

Emma Harris, Wahoo     102-103-205

Alison Dinslage, Norfolk Catholic    107-99-206

Tori Hager, Kimball    96-111-207

Abby Hahn, Tri County    101-106-207

Michaela Ostdiek, Grand Island Central Catholic     105-102-207

Molly Drozd, Kearney Catholic    110-97-207

Crystal Evans, Crofton    96-112-208

Nicole Gasper, Columbus Scotus    106-103-209

Maegan Kellogg, Grand Island Central Catholic    96-114-210

Rachelle Hamik, Kearney Catholic    107-103-210

Brittney Peterson, Wayne    112-100-212

Heather Anderson, Minden     108-104-212

Sara Kohles, Crofton     109-103-212

Chelsea Murrell, Mitchell     104-109-213

Jordan Brummond, Tekamah-Herman    110-105-215

Chelsey Asmus, Pierce    112-104-216

Camarie Spanel, Broken Bow     110-107-217

Hilary Smith, Norfolk Catholic     108-109-217

Kylea Shelton, Minden     109-108-217

Mariah Brandt, Tri County     114-109-223

Shannon Anderson, Bridgeport     113-111-224

Mollie Baliman, Kimball     118-106-224-225

Shelby Shutts, Tri County     113-112-225

Jocelyn Utecht, Doniphan-Trumbull    111-114-225

Kaci Wolken, Johnson County Central     109-117-226

Kinsie Hanson, Chadron     115-112-227

Kiya Stack, Chadron     112-115-227

Hannah Atkins, Pierce     114-114-228

Taylor Huck, Bridgeport     119-110-229

Mandy Warneke, Elkhorn Valley     114-116-230

Rachel Micheel, Crawford     119-111-230

Lindsey Badertscher, Johnson County Central     113-118-231

Whitney Pfister, Johnson County Central     113-118-231

Kelsey Hofstetter, Tri County     112-120-232

Miranda Kluthe, Hershey     123-109-232

Whitney Allbery, Omaha Brownell-Talbot     118-116-234

Brittany Vohland, Broken Bow     119-115-234

Carly Dana, Omaha Brownell-Talbot     122-112-234

Kara Riesen, Tri County    125-110-235

Sidneiy Grable, Auburn     120-117-237

Bianca Witt, Gibbon     122-115-237

Kirsten Boedeker, Omaha Brownell-Talbot    122-115-237

Arena Govier, Grand Island Central Catholic    125-112-237

Samantha Rainforth, Doniphan-Trumbull     118-121-239

Andrea Garza, Bridgeport    119-121-240

Mary Davis, Norfolk Catholic     119-122-241

Shelby Backhus, Lincoln Lutheran     117-126-243

Nicole Houston, Bridgeport     125-122-247

Rachel Kettelhake, Johnson County Central     128-119-247

Christina Schroeder, Crofton     124-124-248

Jessica Schadegg, Kimball     130-125-255

Megan Hesman, Doniphan-Trumbull     128-130-258

Michelle Fritsch, Johnson County Central     127-132-259

Sarah Dierking, Broken Bow    131-128-259

Jenna Roh, Columbus Scotus     133-128-261

Megan Albrecht, Pierce     137-125-262

Julianna Voss, Chadron     132-131-263

Emily Merryfield, Kimball     129-135-264

Alicia Anderson, Doniphan-Trumbull    137-127-264

Paige Bauerkemper, Chadron     122-143-265

Kelby Dickerson, Kimball     140-138-278

Talia Simon, Omaha Brownell-Talbot     141-138-279

Kaitlin Stevens, Chadron    138-142-280

Jordan Steckelberg, Pierce     165-167-332

Laurie Reichenberg, Broken Bow     165-167-332