After facing a few mid-season hiccups, the women’s golf team found their footing and is starting to string a few impressive showings together. Loras is currently in fourth, out of nine teams, in the first two rounds of the Iowa Conference championship tournament.

Coming off a second-place finish last week may have struck a match under the Duhawks, giving them hope for a deep tournament run.

“I think last week was important. It was the first time all season we played with a lead, and even though we ended up giving up the lead on the second day, you learn a lot just by being in that environment,” said Coach Jeremy Hawkins. “I think that really helped us this week and should help us next week as well.”

That experience, coupled with the favorable course for the women, made for a good first two rounds.

After competing on courses that were totally new to them, it was a nice change of scenery to play on a course that fit their gameplans better.

Junior Abby Potts is in fourth place, individually, after carding rounds of 79 and 81.

First-year Lauren Gonner is currently tied 15th with rounds of 83 and 88, sophomore Kathryn Belanger 89 and 85, Shayna Siegert 91 and 92, and rounded out with junior Christina Jackson scoring a 97 and 87 through their first two rounds.

“This weekend is the type of play we have been looking for,” said Hawkins. “The golf course really suited our style of play, and our ladies took advantage of that.”

Looking back to last season the team was very similar to where they are now; the difference now, however, is that they have improved their overall team score from last year.

Their end of the year play and performances were very similar to this year because they had their middle slump, but when it came down to the tournaments that counted they were pulling out great scores just as they are now.

“I think we have slowly gotten better (as we should),” said Hawkins. “We are still a young team, and I look for us to only continue to get better.”

After another great performance in the first two rounds by the top five consisting of Potts, Jackson, Gonner, Belanger and Siegert, the team looks to complete the season on a high note by finishing off the conference tournament finishing in that top four range.

This means they will have to maintain their play from this past weekend.

“I was most pleased by two things: First, Abby Potts played very well on Friday and Saturday, and didn’t let her good round ‘get in the way,’” said Hawkins. “A lot of times, you can be playing great, start thinking about how great you’re playing, and then everything falls apart. She did a good job of staying in the present and finishing her round.”

“Second, the middle of the lineup played well this weekend. Lauren Gonner had a great Friday, and Christina Jackson had a great Saturday. Both Kathryn Belanger and Shayna Siegert played very steady. Katheryn really helped us out with a good score on Saturday.”

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com. 

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com. 

WASHINGTON – The faithful waited anxiously for tickets outside of Nationals Stadium to see Pope Benedict XVI some were lucky enough to be given a ticket from a stranger.

“They just handed the tickets to us and told us to go split up amongst our group. They gave us about six tickets,” said one lucky crowd member.

Catholics from all over the world travel to the nation’s capital at the hope of seeing the pope.

While over 40,000 people gathered to get a glimpse of the man at home plate; across town others prepared to meet with the Holy Father on a more personal level.

“Much to my surprise I was in a fourth row seat and two seats away from where the Pope entered and exited”, said Loras College President Jim Collins.

President Collins was one of the 200 Catholic educators invited to meet with the Pope. Pope Benedict’s message at the event was one of gratitude.

“There has never been a more difficult time then now to be a college leader, the pope told us that he recognizes what we do and he empowers us and supports us,” added Collins reflecting on his D.C. trip.

For President Collins this message was a lasting one that he brought back to Loras and Dubuque.

“Keeping the faith and knowing that you have my support, know what you are doing is important, and know that it will make a difference,” said Collins about the impact of the Pope’s message.

Whether you were a Catholic waiting to see the pope or a president of an Iowa College, seeing the Pope during his first visit to the U.S makes an impact.

“It is kind of just dawning on me how amazing it is as a Catholic, but even more amazing how intimate the opportunity it was that I had and how unlikely it is that I would ever have such an opportunity like that, and how very few people ever have such an opportunity,” reflected Presidents Collins.

An opportunity that will last a lifetime for President Collins and all of the other Catholic faithful that saw Pope Benedict’s first visit to the United States.

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com

DUBUQUE – When asked about her strengths sophomore pitcher Kate Earlywine keeps it short.

“I think I’m hardworking and positive on the diamond,” says Earlywine.

Ask her teammates about her, and they cannot stop talking.

“Kate is one of those people who never get down; she is a great kid and she works really hard each and every day,” says senior captain Stacy Bahl. “She is always trying to hit her spots; she always tries to hit her corners when she needs to,” adds junior catcher Kim Chalekian.

Her teammates say she always has a positive attitude and can get big strikeouts when they are most needed. That has led to Kate breaking her own record

“I broke the record for the most strikeouts in a game,” says Kate.

Those big strikeouts have led to over 200 hitters leaving the batter’s box empty handed. This season Kate broke the record for the most career strike outs, giving her the most of any pitcher in Loras history.

These numbers are not the focus of this sophomore’s game.

“I just love the lessons you can learn from being an athlete and playing sports,” says Kate.

Hard work, teamwork, and discipline are just a few of the things that Kate attributes to her time spent on the playing field. Add all those together and she has two records and a whole lot of respect; especially from her catcher.

“She is out there in the middle of that circle, all alone pitching every pitch,” says catcher Kim Chalekian.

That is not how Kate sees it. In fact, she throws the credit right back at her teammates.

“A lot of the credit goes to my teammates, especially to my catchers; they are calling pitches every game so I do not think people realize how much work they put in,” says Kate.

In a sport where even small mistakes can decide the game; Kate’s contribution makes a big difference.

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com