By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Sammy Morgan, Jenni Mix, Emily Morrison, Kristen Dilly and Lily Hayes were the Southeast girls traveling to the OHSAA Division II state tournament at Firestone Country Club in Akron and finishing third in the state.

For both Morgan and Mix, it was their second time at Firestone as Southeast qualified for the tournament two years ago.

What was it like knowing they were playing the same course again?

“I was excited to play it again,” said Mix.

Sammy Morgan agreed, “I set better goals since I was familiar with it.”

Emily Morrison had played Firestone, not with the Southeast team, but in an Northern Ohio PGA Tournament over the summer and Dillon was excited to pay a nicer course like Firestone.

The Southeast girls were able to stay in a Villa on the Firestone Country Club grounds and all thought that was the most fun, staying on the course.

Some of their favorite memories was staying in the villa, playing cornhole and welcoming Avery Robinette of Champion (third individual in D2) to stay with them in the Villa.

Dillon liked playing the practice round because they didn’t play it like a match. “We dropped balls, tried different spots on the greens.”

Sammy Morgan liked going to get food after the tournaments.

With a team that includes four juniors and a sophomore, the team is already setting goals.

Mix wants to be more consistent, shooting in the 80s consistently and knows that is achievable.

Sammy Morgan wants to go low this year. “I had my best season this year and would like to do better.”

Kristen Dillon also wants to see her score in the 80s after hard work in the off season, stay under 90 and shoot for second at the state tournament next season.

Emily Morrison wants to work on sticking it closer on the green and Mix recognizes that the short game is important as well.

Hayes said it was important for her to step out of her comfort zone. She loved meeting new people on the other teams and expects to work hard in the off season.

Four of the girls, Sammy Morgan, Jenni Mix, Lily Hayes and Kristen Dillon grew up playing in the Pirates Play Golf program that Southeast runs each winter prior to the start of the golf season. Emily Morrison grew up in Mogadore but played in the junior program at Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course in Lake Milton and started playing golf in sixth grade.

All are looking forward to signing up for more tournaments in the off-season.

Their coach, Cindy Fesemyer, is a huge part of their success.

“She helps us work on our mental game and our emotions,” said Jenni Mix.

Hayes loved being a part of the team, made many new friends. “Golf made me step outside my comfort zone.”

Many golfers would agree with the girls that golf courses with clocks are often hard.

“The ones with the large clock are the hardest I play,” offered Sammy Morgan.

“She never has any doubt in us and believes in us,” said Hayes about Coach Fesemyer.

“Coach Fesemyer makes us work for it because she knows we can do it and always want us to do better,” said Mix.

The girls noted that the first day of the tournament they did well after eating French toast sticks but they were out but Fez (the name the girls affectionately call Coach Fesemyer) made sure we had another box.

Fesemyer is proud of the girls.

“When I am riding around in the cart at the tournament or a match, there isn’t mjch I can do but I see them trying so hard and I know how hard they have worked to reaha their goals.”

Sammy Morgan noted that golf is hard.

“Every hole is a different game. It could be raining on the back nine and sunny on the front. You just have to stay in your zone.”

Stay in the zone, the Southeast girls did, the entire successful season with a conference championship and district championship as well as top three state finish.

Now, the team is seeking even bigger and better things next season and with everyone back, their goals are achievable.

MOGADORE

The Wildcats came to the tournament in a different route than most teams. The Wildcats won the District tournament but were not a part of any conference for the second straight season, so their successes are measured each week at tournaments and matches.

“The team wound up where they wanted to at the beginning of the season, the state championship,” said Matt Bogner in his first year with the team. “That was our goal from day one.”

Ask the team and it was their goal from the end of the state championship last year.

Making it out of sectionals, Mogadore didn’t do as well as they had hoped at the first step of the state tournament.

“At Districts, the team played good golf din th last few years, led by Max Shannon with an 81,” said the coach. “Another senior, Noah Hopkins, birdied two of the last three holes to shoot an 83 and junior Max Simone played a solid round of 85 with junior Brock Thiry rounding out the scores with an 88,” said Bogner.

“We got off to a rough start at the state tournament,” offered Boner.

The team played with Ottawa Hills and Berlin Hiland and the Wildcats may have been a little intimidated offered the coach.

Each golfer improved the second day and sought to move up the leaderboard but ultimately finished as the 11^th best team in the state in Division III.

“It was special,” said Bogner. “It was a great season.”

“The golfers made the transition from longtime coach Chris Mossa to myself very smooth. “They knew what the goal was and what they had to do to get to Columbus. Senior leadership and experience by all the players was proven.”

“I am incredibly proud of their hard work and determination. It was a great season,” concluded Bogner.