By ElsaJurrens & MalloryConnealy

Not every Marian sports team gets the opportunity to travel two hours to compete. However, the golf team travels to Norfolk Country Club for State almost every year. Junior Madison Terranova joined this tradition for the first time this year as a varsity team member. As her first year exclusively being on the varsity team, Terranova was excited for the end-of-season road-trip to state. 

“Traveling with the team I feel helped us get to know each other better and created a stronger bond between us all,” Terranova said. The golfers follow a strict schedule for the weekend including hype carpool rides, bonding activities and a hotel party to celebrate making it to state at the end of the season. “While we are gone for tournaments, we go to team dinners at restaurants which are always so much fun,” Terranova said. While parents of the golfers tag along on the trip, the golfers actually room with each other. “Our team captain, Brielle, chooses the hotel room assignments, however we usually all hang out in one room after dinner until we go to bed,” Terranova said. 

The girls also allot a specific amount of time each day dedicated to completing their homework assignments in order to stay on top of schoolwork. Being a part of the golf program, the athletes miss a lot of school and therefore have to develop good time management skills to be successful student athletes. 

The golf team placed second at districts, securing them a spot in the state tournament. The Marian Golf team finished fourth at state with 349 strokes. The team competed on the Norfolk course, par 72. Senior Brielle Abboud said, “our team goal was to finish fourth at state.” 

“About five schools were gunning for that fourth place spot, including North Platte who had beaten us by 10 shots the week prior at districts,” head golf coach Mr. Robert Davis said. 

Not only did the team get fourth place, but they finished fourth by 35 strokes.

This is the first time Marian has broken 700 strokes at state. “It was a 10-year best for Marian,” Davis said.

Sophomore Madison Murnan shot 82 and 84 to finish 12th. Junior Tori Shenkleberg shot 83 and 92 to finish in a tie at 19th. Senior Brielle Abboud shot 90 and 87 to finish tied for 22nd.  Junior Madison Terranova shot 94 and 90 to finish 33rd. Finally, sophomore Sophia Martin shot 102 and 89 to finish tied for 42nd.