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2 days ago
- Sport
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Big effort from No. 5 player helps Bloomington South extend boys golf sectional streak
Bloomington South got a big save from its resident goalie. After the top four scores came in at the rain-delayed Bloomington North boys golf sectional Monday, June 9, the Panthers' run of 10 straight sectional titles was in a bit of jeopardy, with South and Bedford North Lawrence tied for first at 308. Advertisement But Gerber, keeper for the state runner-up boy soccer team last fall, played the No. 5 spot and turned in a 79 at soggy Cascades Golf Course, lowering the Panthers' score to 306 and the title. BNL (308) and Bloomington North (312), led by a pair of 76s from Hogan Conder and Alec Freund, was third to grab the last team spot. Seymour (321) was fourth and Edgewood (322) was fifth with one of its best team efforts of the season, and those schools provided all three individual qualifiers as Mustang freshman Teigen Hulbert's 79 kept his season alive. Owen Valley was 11th (382) and Lighthouse Christian shot a 480 in its first time playing at sectional. More: IHSAA girls state track: Bloomington South 'crushes it' for best finish ever at finals More: IHSAA state track: Record-setting day leads to trophy for Bloomington North boys Advertisement Qualifiers head to the Washington Regional, hosted by Country Oak Golf Course, on Thursday, June 12. Bloomington South's Owen Gerber hits a tee shot during the IHSAA boys' golf sectional at Cascades Golf Course on Monday, June 9, 2025. "You've got to have a 3-4-5," said South coach Dustin Carver, who graduated his top three seniors in Happy Gilmore, Connor Byon and Luke Garrett in 2024. "They've got to just stay steady. They don't have to play spectacular golf, just good golf and produce a score hopefully under 80. "Owen Gerber has played absolutely fantastic the last five weeks since I've had him. It's been nice to see." It's been an interesting season for the Panthers, with several ups and downs, including a change in head coaches with Darin Woodley relieved of duties and Carver coming back for the last month of the season. But they got the job done. Advertisement "I'm just proud of them fighting and coming out and fighting and putting up a good score," Carver said. "Our schedule is set up to play the toughest teams and the toughest courses, so going to our conference and out here should feel comfortable to them. "But three of the five, this is their first go-around at sectional, so just super pleased." Bloomington South's Colton Watson hits a tee shot during the IHSAA boys' golf sectional at Cascades Golf Course on Monday, June 9, 2025. Hot start lifts Watson to medalist Colton Watson was South's ace with a three-under 68. He shot a 32 on the front nine and played the back in par to earn medalist honors. Watson joins Happy Gilmore (2), Nick Bellush, Drew Todd (2), Joe Weiler, Nick Burris and Sam Karcher as sectional medalists during the current 11-year team title run. Advertisement "I started out pretty hot," Watson said. "I was hitting the driver good, had a couple good wedge shots, like on 3, hit it within eight foot and made it. I was just striking it really well, hitting it in good spots, giving myself chances for birdie and making pars." It took a team effort to top the Stars with Aidan Bomba and Gerber's 79s and an 80 from Owen Wisley counting. Carson Gady, under the weather Carver said, had an 82. Wisley had a 37 on the back after a tough 43. "Those boys battled," Carver said. "Just really pleased with where they are at and hopefully, we can go down to regional and make some noise there." BNL's Evan Tillett hits onto the green during the IHSAA boys' golf sectional at Cascades Golf Course on Monday, June 9, 2025. BNL breaks ice, makes regional The Stars were hoping that 13 might be their lucky number, as it's been that many years (2012) since their last sectional title, but it wasn't to be. Still, BNL is back to regional for the first time since 2022. Advertisement Evan Tillett led the effort with a 1-under 70. Nick Bellush added a 77 and close behind were Parker Foddrill 80, Drew McKee 81 and Hudson Martin 82. "Really proud of the way the guys played today and obviously Evan came up and played really well," BNL coach Trey Turner said. "I thought that the ball-striking was very good today. We kept the ball in the fairway most of the day between the tree line and hit greens, which is the most important thing. "So just really proud of the way we played and now it's time to get ready for the regional." Tillett opened with a 34 on the Quarry 9 and played the Pine in par to finish second. Advertisement "He switched drivers I think literally yesterday," Turner said. "He's had about three or four different drivers this year, but this one was working. Every drive I saw him hit was right down the middle so I think that was just setting him up to hit greens and make the birdies that he did and just make easy pars." Bloomington North's Zayan Farzad hits a tee shot during the IHSAA boys' golf sectional at Cascades Golf Course on Monday, June 9, 2025. North comes through There looked to be a tight race for the top three spots and by the end, just 16 shots separated first from fifth. Senior Hogan Conder and sophomore Alec Freund carded 76s to lift the Cougars, who were fourth after nine holes. But every Cougar improved their score on the longer Pine, led by Freund going 1-under (35) and Conder at 37 to rally to regional. Advertisement More: How North's Alec Freund balances football, hockey and golf schedules "I thought we weren't going to make it out at first but I'm glad we did," Conder said. "We've made it out every year I've played on the team so it's good to continue that. "I wasn't playing good at all. My short game really saved me today. I wasn't hitting any greens and if I would have been able to hit any greens ... Sand shots really killed me today." But he knew he had to stick with it for North to have a chance. "I just took it as every shot mattered," Conder said. Zayan Farzad had a 79 while playing out of the No. 1 spot with Rex Speer rounding out the top four with an 81. Advertisement "Sometimes, playing No. 1 is not about who the best golfer is but who is the most consistent," North coach Harrison Carmichael said. "He's been our most consistent lately and he's represented the program well." Edgewood's Calvin McDonald hits a tee shot during the IHSAA boys' golf sectional at Cascades Golf Course on Monday, June 9, 2025. Edgewood freshman Hulbert escapes Hulbert stumbled out of the gate at 6-over on the front (including a quadruple bogey 8 on No. 3) before coming back with a 38 to save his season. "I'm very impressed," Hulbert said. "I'm glad I was able to come back and fight tooth and nail on the back. I didn't really hit the ball great today, so my scrambling really helped me." It earned him his first trip to regional. Advertisement "It means everything to me," Hulbert said. "I'm a freshman. From the start of the season, I wanted to go to regionals, and I get to be with more competition, which I love." Calvin McDonald and Hank Ripley just missed being in the mix with 80s, while Zayne Dwigans had an 83. It was another near miss, but a solid effort from the top four all the same. Ike Wilkie played the back in 43 to card a 91. "Good thing is, Teigan's back, Hank's back, Ike's back," Lee said. "I knew we would have to have two or three guys break 80 to have a chance. We had an 80, 80, 79, so we were not far off. "We all know we had things we could have done better but that's the best we've played all year. So, you can't really complain when they play the best they've played all year together. I don't know what else you could ask for." Advertisement Owen Valley was led by an 81 from Jake Cunningham, while Connor Deckard had a 94. Lighthouse's top score was a 101 from Nathan Biggs. Owen Valley's Jake Cunningham hits a tee shot during the IHSAA boys' golf sectional at Cascades Golf Course on Monday, June 9, 2025. Eastern Greene on hold The Terre Haute Sectional at Hulman Links was completely rained out on Monday and will be played on Tuesday, starting at 9 a.m. Qualifiers will also head to the Washington Regional on Thursday. BLOOMINGTON NORTH SECTIONAL Team scores (top 3 advance): Bloomington South 306; Bedford North Lawrence 308; Bloomington North 312; Seymour 321; Edgewood 322; Brownstown Central 33; Salem 348; Brown County 359; West Washington 362; Trinity Lutheran 377; Owen Valley 382; Lighthouse Christian 480. Advertisement Individual qualifiers: Zarik Black, Sey 74; Kirby Tormoehlen, Sey 79; Teigan Hulbert, Edg 79. Top 10 individuals: 1. Colton Watson, BS 68; 2. Evan Tillett, BNL 70; 3. Black, Sey 74; T4. Hogan Conder, BN 76; Alec Freund, BN 76; 6. Tyler Bellush, BNL 77; T7. Zayan Farzad, BN 79; Aidan Bomba, BS 79; Owen Gerber, BS 79; Hulbert, Edg 79; Tormoehlen, Sey 79. Other Bloomington South: Owen Wisley 80, Carson Gady 82. Other Bloomington North: Rex Speer 81, Foster Larsen 98. Other BNL: Parker Foddrill 80, Drew McKee 81, Hudson Martin 82. Other Edgewood: Calvin McDonald 80, Hank Ripley 80, Zayne Dwigans 83, Ike Wilkie 91. Owen Valley: Jake Cunningham 81, Connor Deckard 94, Hunter Williams 100, Aidan Christy 107. Lighthouse Christian: Nathan Biggs 101, Keaton Jones 109, Eli Lautenbach 135, Noah Roadruck 135. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington South extends IHSAA boys golf sectional winning streak
Axios
14-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
How COVID-19 changed NWA health care
Health care systems in Northwest Arkansas are still feeling the impact of COVID-19, for better and worse, five years after the pandemic started. State of play: "Recruitment and retention of nurses continues to be one of the biggest challenges for Washington Regional and other health care organizations," Birch Wright, Washington Regional Medical Center chief operating officer, told Axios in an emailed statement. Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas also saw nurses and other health care workers burn out and resign during the pandemic, or leave for higher-paying travel nursing jobs, Mercy chief medical officer Sonal Bhakta told Axios. Since then, Mercy upped its engagement with nursing schools, technical schools and training programs like Bentonville Public Schools' Ignite program to make sure it has a strong workforce pipeline, she said. Flashback: Hospitals in NWA, like much of the country, were overwhelmed by the number of COVID-19 patients and struggled with staffing. What they're saying: "That taught us resiliency and flexibility," Bhakta said, adding that taking care of acutely sick patients taught the hospital how to stretch their resources. By the numbers: Hospitals continue to face a difficult financial environment because ofrising costs and inflation, which are growing faster than reimbursements from insurance companies, Wright said. Yes, but: The pandemic was a catalyst for increasing telehealth services, and now health care professionals "do it and do it well," Bhakta said. Telehealth, or medical appointments over video, help reach rural patients for specialty or other care not available nearby. The pandemic also helped health care workers at Mercy embrace AI as a tool, she said, which has alleviated administrative burdens on staff. Zoom out: Health care organizations like Washington Regional have kept some COVID-era procedures in place, like offering masks and hand sanitizer, Wright said. Washington Regional also continues to separate patients who have respiratory illness symptoms in its emergency department.
