The district tournament was held October 9 as Helias competed with ten other schools for the district title.  The Lady Crusaders finished in fourth place overall (our best finish in any tournament this year).  Senior Morgan Branch had a very good day as she fired a 93 to finish in fifth place and qualify for the state tournament to be held next week at the Silo Ridge golf course in Bolivar.  Three sophomores played in their first district tournament and represented Helias well.  Sophia Pardalos and Mary Schepker both shot 103’s and Elizabeth Grothoff added a 109.  Senior Ali Baumhoer shot a 114 in her final high school tournament.   

The Lady Crusaders wrapped up the regular season with a busy week.  On Monday they played in the Capital City Tournament hosted by Jefferson City High School.  Wednesday night Jefferson City and Helias played in a dual at Redfield golf course and on Thursday Helias hosted Rock Bridge and Moberly at Oak Hills on Senior and Teacher Appreciation night.

The Capital City Tournament was played at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club.  The Lady Crusaders finished in 11th out of 17 teams.  Morgan Branch lead Helias with a 97, Sophia Pardalos added a 98, Mary Schepker a 99, and Cortni Taggart a 109.  Notre Dame DeSion won the tournament.  Helias did finish ahead of Eureka and just 3 shots behind Jefferson City.  Both of these schools will be in Helias’ district next week.

The Lady Crusaders edged pass Jefferson City in a varsity only match played at Redfield golf course by a score of 189 to 193.  Mary Schepker lead Helias with a 44, Morgan Branch shot a 47, Ali Baumhoer a 48, and Cortni Taggart a 50.  Redfield golf course is where the district tournament is to be played next week, so this was an excellent opportunity for both teams to get to see the course.

 Thursday night was the last match of the year.  Rock Bridge just beat Helias by one shot 184-185.  Moberly finished third with a 209 score.  The 185 was the best nine hole score of the year for the Lady Crusaders.  For the first time all year Helias had four golfers shoot in the 40’s.  Ali Baumhoer shot a 44(her personal best) and Morgan Branch, Sophia Pardalos, and Mary Schepker all shot 47’s.  The JV team defeated Rock Bridge by a score of 210-229.  Moberly did not field a JV team.  Liz Grothoff fired a 45 (her personal best) to lead the JV team, Emily Churchill added a 50, Mallory Sone a 55 (her personal best) Portia Schmidt a 60, Celina Aur a 63 and Brooke Wilde a 64.

The ladies continue to show improvement and looks to be peeking at the right time.  Districts will be held next Thursday, October 9th.  Qualifying to determine who will play in the district tournament will continue next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  We have seven girls competing for the five district spots.  Rolla looks to be the early favorite but there are a number of teams in the district from schools located in the southern part of the state they we have not seen this year.  Coach Mathes thinks that the district champ be anyone including the Lady Crusaders if they continue to show the improvement that they have the past two weeks.   

The Lady Crusaders would like to thank the teachers that were able to come to the match on Thursday and follow them: Mrs. Crider, Mr. Cadice, Mr. Hake, Mr. Wyrick, Mr. Zeitz, and Mrs. Seifert.  Other teachers that were also recognized were: Mr. Baer, Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Ludwig, Mr. Phil Pitts, and Mrs. Verslues.  Three seniors: Ali Baumhoer, Morgan Branch and Cortni Taggart were honored for their contribution to the golf team.

The girls would also like to thank Mrs. Haslag for coming out and taking team pictures and pictures during the matches for the year book.  It was greatly appreciated.         

The Lady Crusaders continued to show improvement in their scores and overall play this week.  On Monday Helias hosted a dual match verses California at Oak Hills.  Mary Schepker earned overall medalist honors with a 47, Ali Baumhoer and Sophia Pardalos added 49’s and Morgan Branch a 52.  Helias finished with a 197 total. California’s total was a 211.  The JV team also won.  They were lead by Emily Churchill’s 55, Mallory Sone added a 57, Celina Aur a 60, and Maryssa Rehagen a 61.  Helias had a 233 total to California’s 247.

 On Wednesday the Lady Crusaders traveled to Fulton to play in the William Woods University Tournament held at Tanglewood golf course.  Helias finished with a 386 total to finish 6^th overall but were only 6 shots out of third place.  Only 8 shots separated the 3^rd place to 7^th place teams. Morgan Branch lead Helias with a 92 (including a 42 on the front nine), Mary Schepker added a 93, Sophia Pardalos a 96 and Emily Churchill a 105. This was Emily’s second time playing varsity this year and her first varsity tournament.

An update on Lady Crusader’s currently playing golf in college:  Stephanie Bruemmer is playing in the number five spot for William Woods University.  She has played in three tournaments so far this fall. Megan Sundermeyer is also playing for William Woods and is battling for the number 8 spot on the team.  Jessica Schepker is playing for Truman State University and has made the varsity team and played in two tournaments for them this fall.

The Lady Crusaders finished up a busy week with two dual matches against Rolla on Wednesday and at Hickman on Thursday.   Rolla defeated Helias when they shot a 162 total to Helias’ 189.  Morgan Branch lead the Crusaders with a 43, Ali Baumhoer added a 46, Mary Schepker a 49, Cortni Taggart a 51, and Sophia Pardalos a 53.  The JV team fell also when Rolla finished with a 214 total to Helias’ 225.  For the JV team, Liz Grothoff shot a 56, Emily Churchill a 58, and Mallory Sone 59.

On Thursday, Helias traveled to Columbia to play the L.A. Nichols golf course verses Hickman.  Helias defeated Hickman by a score of 246 to 249. Since Hickman only has seven girls out for their team, we played seven girls on varsity and counted five scores instead of the usual five girls play varsity and count four scores.  Cortni Taggart was overall medalist with a 46.  This was the first time this year that Helias has had a girl earn medalist honors.  Ali Baumhoer and Morgan Branch added 49’s, Sophia Pardalos a 50 and Mary Schepker a 52.  Liz Grothoff and Emily Grothoff both played on the varsity team and finished with a score of 60.  The freshman continue to show improvement.  Mallory Sone shot a 62.  Maryssa Rehagen, Celina Aur, and Brooke Wilde have been playing all holes as par three’s.  At Rolla, Celina shot a 45, Maryssa a 46 and Brooke a 52.  Thursday, they played the first six holes from the regular tee boxes and the last three holes as par three’s.  Celina had a 49, Maryssa a 51, and Brooke a 55.  With their scores improving the freshman will play the last two duals of the year from the regular tee boxes. 

On Monday, September 22, the Lady Crusaders will host California in a varsity and JV match at Oak Hills.  This match is not on the regular schedule but was added when we were rained out of a dual with Marshall and a make up date could not be found.  Also, not on the schedule is a match against Jefferson City on October 1^st that will be played at the Redfield golf course.  This is the course were the district tournament will be held October 9^th.  This will be a varsity only match with the top six golfers playing.                       

With the weather improving it looks like this will be a busy week for the Lady Crusaders golf team.  On Monday, September 15^th Helias took part in the Smith-Cotton tournament held at Sedalia Country Club.  The Lady Crusaders finished in 10th place overall with a 390 total.  There were 19 schools in the tournament.  Senior Cortni Taggart lead Helias with a 92 (her personal best), Sophia Pardalos added a 98, Morgan Branch a 99, Mary Schepker a 101 and Ali Baumhoer a 108.  Helias finished ahead of several other larger schools including Blue Springs, Park Hill South, Columbia Hickman and Camdenton.  Helias had lost to Hickman and Camdenton earlier in the year in triangular matches.   

The ladies travel to Rolla (a district opponent) on Wednesday before visiting Columbia Hickman on Thursday. Next Monday, September 22 a match has been added to the schedule.  We will have a dual match verses California at Oak Hills golf course.  This will replace the match scheduled at Marshall last week that was rained out and will not be rescheduled.  We have also added a match verses Jefferson City on October 1^st.  This will be a varsity only match at Redfield golf course.  Redfield will be where the district tournament will be played.