PREP GIRLS GOLF: Reschly three-peats, Raiders two-peat as sectional champs

MIDDLEBURY — The sectional battles between Northridge and Fort Wayne Carroll have been competitive in recent seasons.

But competitive doesn’t mean equal. With a second-straight sectional victory, and the second win over the Chargers this season, the Raiders are firmly in front of their northern Indiana rival.

“We had a slow start today and things were not trending in the right direction for a while,” Northridge head coach Ken Brewster said. “I’m proud of the girls for battling. I went up to a couple and said ‘Just don’t give up.’ I said ‘The back is easier, you just put it where you need to, just make pars and bogeys and we’ll be fine. What you can’t do is give up.’”

The one person who barely needed some words of wisdom was senior Alex Reschly. Reschly won her third-consecutive sectional title with a medalist performance that ended one-stroke better than Fort Wayne’s Taylor Larkins. Reschly shot two birdies and two bogeys to finish even. Larkins was one-over. A putt that clung to the lip of the cup on Hole 17 doomed the Chargers’ top golfer.

“[Alex is] the one that started on fire today and took the lead into the back and knew what she had to do to win,” Brewster said. “That’s a three-peat for her against the same girl. They had a playoff sophomore year but now Alex has beat her straight-up the last two years.”

Reschly explained her day on the Northridge home course at Meadow Valley GC.

“I took the lead early and I was definitely just trying to keep that lead all day,” Reschly said. “I managed pretty well. I just had consistent rounds. I had two birdies and two bogeys. I was just trying to be patient and my best.”

“I was trying to come out here and win it again,” Reschly said. “I knew anything could happen, but it’s a little surreal winning sectional three times.”

Northridge finished first with a score of 333. Behind Reschly was Macey Riegsecker (86), Kennadi Kropf (86) and Callie Miller (89). Amery Rost (103) was the Raiders fifth-scorer.

Carroll (349) and East Noble (395) advanced to the regional round. So did Fairfield’s Bella Blosser and Mallory McGowen along with Concord’s Ella Carlisle. Blosser shot 99 while McGowen and Carlisle both shot 100.

“I did not think at all I was gonna make it,” McGowen said. “I was kind of surprised by the competition but it was a fun day on the course, so it was a good day, but I didn’t really expect this outcome.”

“I’m really glad we don’t have to go alone, because it’s really a different experience when you can kind of look behind you and go ‘Oh, there’s Mallory, I wonder how she’s doing,’” Blosser said. “Sometimes they catch up to you. It’s just way more fun when you got someone there.”

It was a bit of an abnormal finish on Hole 18. After Reschly, Larkins and East Noble’s Lillian Oburn shook hands, instead of the high-five, Brewster went in for the hug.

He fought back some emotions talking about why he did after the award presentation.

“Just to see how she’s grown over four years, and for her to be just rock-solid when we need her to be,” Brewster said. “Alex and I have had our differences in a way a coach and a player would sometimes. I don’t know, I always want her to know that I’ve always been behind her. Even when I’m upset with her sometimes, I’m behind her. I felt like she needed to know I was still behind her. ... “I wanted her to know that I still had her back and that I was proud of her.”

He explained she set the goal to go for three-straight medalist titles.

“The team and coach and everything, it’s just so special,” Reschly said. “We all push each other but also support each other and make each other better. That’s what’s really awesome about this team and what I’m going to miss.”

Brewster, which now sets his sights on a second-ever and second-straight regional title next week, explained how he constructed the bottom of the lineup. Reschly, Riegsecker and Kropf have all been solidly in the lineup card throughout the season.

“You just have to ride the hot hand and hope they stay hot,” Brewster said.

“I felt like the last few weeks I was picking the right lineups at least. The lineup didn’t hurt us today. At the end of the day, we didn’t shoot our best, [but] they played tough today.”

Northridge will aim for the regional title and a state championship advancement next week when the Raiders travel to Noble Hawk GC in Kendallville. The top three advancing teams and individuals on non-advancing teams will make it to the IHSAA State Finals on Oct. 3-4 at Prairie View GC. The Raiders have made it to state the last two seasons.

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PREP GIRLS GOLF

IHSAA Sectional 6 at Meadow Valley GC

Advancing teams: Northridge, FW Carroll, East Noble

Advancing individuals: Bella Blosser (Fairfield, 99), Mallory McGowen (Fairfield, 100), Ella Carlisle (Concord, 100)

TEAM SCORES

No. 11 Northridge (333) — Alex Reschly (72, medalist), Macey Riegsecker (86), Kennadi Kropf (86), Callie Miller (89), Amery Rost (103)

No. 15 FW Carroll (349) — Taylor Larkin (73), Natalie Winter (89), Ava GeRue (90), Ellie Geller (97), Laura Dimberio (99)

East Noble (395) —Lillian Oburn (82), Sydnee Hillier (97), Emma Raatz (106), Liberty Caldwell (110), Makenna Strohm (111)

Fairfield (425) — Bella Blosser (99), Mallory McGowen (100), Vienna Griffith (109), Whitney Wogoman (117), Adria Brown (131)

Churubusco (446) — Sarah Peer (102), Delaney Ott (109), Jillian Wright (116), Naomi Bohde (119), Amariah VanHorn (127)

Concord (453) — Ella Carlisle (100), Mya Pressler (113), Gia Sponseller (116), Whitney Sotebeer (124), Brayla Yoder (131)

West Noble (480) — Lilyen Lindsay (108), Lacy Leamon (113), Nevaeh Gantt (128), Konstence Hoover (131)

Central Noble (512) — Jada Kessler (122), Kirsten Owen (123), Audrey Price (131), AudriLyn Lambert (136), Whitney Weaver (140)

Prairie Heights (542) — Claire Greathouse (126), Emily Lower (137), Jayde Tuttle (138), Lilyana Johnson (140)

Lakeland (N/S) — Kabella Watkins (110), Isabel Owsley (126), Ashley Bolden (140)