Hornettes Punch Return Ticket To State

The Nashville Hornettes won the IHSA Class 1A Waterloo Gibault Regional on October 4. Pictured from left to right: Sydney Gordon, Jordan Stiegman, Brooke Bartling, Rachael Kell, Hope Rueter, and Rylee White.

By Brent Huelsmann

Coming off of a second place finish last season in the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament, expectations were high for the Hornettes as they came into the season, with four of their top six returning. Nashville punched their return ticket to the State Tournament after winning their Regional, and finishing second in their Sectional. It is the second straight year the Hornettes have advanced to the State tournament as a team, and third time in the past five seasons.

For the second straight season, the Nashville Hornettes came away from Regionals, as champions. The Hornettes finished with a score of 320, the lowest Regional score in IHSA Class 1A, to win the Waterloo Gibault Regional. Nashville finished 23 strokes ahead of second place Althoff. Alton Marquette finished with a score of 352, to be the last team to advance out of the Regional.

Nashville was led by Rachael Kell, who finished with a score of 76, which was good for second overall. Jordan Stiegman finished with an 80, while both Hope Rueter and Brooke Bartling turned in a score of 82. Rylee White finished with a 106, and Sydney Gordon finished with a 109.

The Hornettes then moved into the IHSA Class 1A Alton Marquette Sectional, held at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton. Nashville fell just short of a Sectional title, as Massac County took the victory with a score of 336. The Hornettes came away second with a score of 352, followed by Effingham (St. Anthony) with a score of 358. The medalist at the event was Millie Lawson of Massac County.

Nashville was led by both Bartling and Kell who each finished with an 82. Stiegman turned in an 89 followed by Rueter with a 99. White finished with a 113, while Gordon finished with a 124..