By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The number 13 has been associated with bad luck for centuries. Over 10 percent of the population of the United States suffers from triskaidekaphobia. Tall buildings often skip labeling a 13th floor, airplanes usually don’t offer seats on a 13th row.
Very superstitious? Stevie Wonder would wonder about Bedford North Lawrence’s sectional championship streak. Not even a broken mirror or a black cat on the golf course could keep the Stars from reaching a magic number.
For the 13th consecutive year, BNL cruised to a sectional title, carding 345 on Saturday to win the crown at Otis Park. Senior leader Kinleigh Root earned medalist honors as the Stars advanced to the regional at Country Oaks on Sept. 27 and crept ever closer to a state record.
The IHSAA mark for consecutive sectional titles in 16, set by Penn from 2008-23. BNL’s run started in 2013. So there’s really nothing ominous about that dreaded 13 number at all. Knock on wood.
The Stars might argue that, because some of them felt a little unlucky during their round. The scores were higher than expected, there was a cloud of disappointment instead of a sense of joy following the program’s 20th sectional crown, which vaulted BNL into the Top 10 of all-time sectional trophy winners. Perhaps, while the sectional field didn’t provide tough competition, the course did. Otis won this day, and the Stars don’t like losing to any team or entity, physical or otherwise.
The heaviness of being the overwhelming favorite created some pressure. Continuing the streak created expectations. So there was a victory to celebrate, but not the sheer satisfaction of accomplishment for all involved.
“I didn’t think about the number, I just wanted to keep the streak,” BNL first-year coach Carly Stigall said. “A win is a win, We’re always going to be happy with a win. I’m not thrilled with how we played, but I saw a lot of fight.”
Root, the lone senior on the roster, won the individual title with an 82. Emma Voris carded an 85 that included a gutsy 38 on the back nine, and Sammie Nusbaum posted 86 as the Stars produced the best three scores in the field. So there were things to laugh about.
“It means a lot,” Root said. “You usually play worse when you feel like there’s no pressure at all, it doesn’t feel as important. We tried our hardest.”
If anyone had reason to smile, it was Voris, who continued her recent surge of improved scores with a back-nine recovery. Or it was Bella Warren, who broke into double digits for the first time in her short career and almost aced the par-3 10th hole.
“I’m proud of that kid,” Stigall said of Voris in the team’s third spot. “Root kept it together, Bella had a personal best. I know we’re not happy, but I’m proud. We don’t play well on our home course. They tend to play well on other courses.
“Emma is a perfectionist in the best way. She’s OK with misses. When she hits it dead on, she will play lights out. But it’s the fact she’s OK with misses. She doesn’t let it rattle her, she will get the ball in the hole.”
“I just tried to move past the hole I did bad on, put those in the past and focus on the next shot,” Voris said. “I’ve been working a lot, trying to figure out my swing, and everything has been clicking together with each component of the game. Even though we were favored, everyone needs to show up and do their best.”
Kadynn Canada capped the BNL scoring with 92. Emilee Followell paced Seymour with an 86.
The top three teams qualified for the second stage of the state tournament series. Seymour was second with 381, while Brownstown took third with 413. The top three individuals who were not members of qualifying teams also moved to the next round, a list that included Springs Valley’s Dallas Hendrix (102), Paoli’s Alivia Sweet (103) and Eastern Greene’s Isabella Forrester (106).
Now BNL will chase another ticket to the IHSAA state finals. That was the goal, after all.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Nusbaum said. “To come out here and fight, to pull off something when we know people are coming to beat us, we pulled off the win. We always have the team to back you up. You can expect someone else to come in with a good score.”
The top three teams in the 15-team regional field will advance to the state championship rounds at Prairie View on Oct. 3-4.
