I love being Athletic Director of GHS. I really enjoy watching our student-athletes succeed. I feel their joy just like it was my own. Before ball games, I get as nervous as they do. When we get to tournament time, I feel the same sense of urgency and pressure. Today was a great example of that!
Today was the IHSAA Golf Regional at Orchard Ridge Country Club in Fort Wayne. 12 individual golfers and 12 teams fought for a place in the State Tournament next week. Bennett Rieke qualified as an individual and was making his 3rd attempt to qualify for Indianapolis. For the average Golfer, shooting a 40 on 9 holes is pretty good. Not for Bennett Rieke. Bennett and his group teed off on the back nine and after nine holes he was 4 over. Needless to say Bennett wasn't happy. On his 10th hole, he birdied and continued to play pretty good golf through the next 6 holes. He barely missed a birdie on his 15th hole. It rimmed out. That would be very costly! On the 8th hole (his 17th), he got into some trouble and bogeyed the hole. But, the very next hole, a par 3, he drilled the birdie. He finished the day 3 over with a 75. That would be a career day for the average golfer. Then came the waiting. The tension was amazing as the scores came in. In order to qualify for state as an individual, you must finish in the top 3 score of those not qualifying as a team. Bennett ended up in a 3 way tie for 3rd place. SOOOOO, we had a play-off. None of the golfers shot well on the first playoff hole. Bennett was in trouble from the beginning. In the Trees, over the green, over the green again, chip, putt, and putt. Bennett had a double bogey. The other 2 golfers had bogeys. The season was over. Bennett quietly gathered his clubs and walked back to the bus. He was going home. He never said a word. No one dared say anything to him.
I was in just as much pain as he was. Maybe worse. Because in my case I couldn't do anything or say anything that would ease the pain. I wanted to. Bennett is a great golfer. He fought all day even though he was not at his best. He is one of the most intense competitors I've been around. He is also a good leader for this very young golf team. He is the leader on the course and the others try to emulate him.
We are proud of Bennett and all his hard work. We are proud of this entire program and the work Coach Kleeman puts in to prepare his kids. I hope and pray in Bennett's senior year he will see all that work rewarded with a trip to state! I don't know if I can handle to pain otherwise.
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