Collecting hardware has just sort of become a thing for the Franklin girls golf team this season.
The Grizzly Cubs usually don’t go into big tournaments as the favorite — but in their two most important events thus far, they’ve come away as the winner.
They’re hoping that trend continues at The Legends on Friday, when the Johnson County and Mid-State Conference champion tries to win its first sectional crown in 13 years.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
“I think the most important part about going into sectionals is having confidence,” Franklin senior Taylor Drake said, “and after winning county and conference this year, I believe that we have the confidence to win this years sectional tournament.”
Drake, the lone senior in the lineup, has been playing in the No. 1 spot for the Grizzly Cubs all season, but the team knows it can get star turns from each of their top four players on any given day. Sophomore Ellie Beavins was the medalist at the county meet, while freshman Ava Ray took top honors a week later in the conference tourney.
Four of the five players in the Franklin lineup are underclassmen — sophomores Liv Parramore and Carly Woodward round out the group — but that youth hasn’t been a problem yet this season
“I think their age is deceiving in terms of golf maturity,” Franklin coach Chris Kacarab said. “Taylor, as a senior, obviously has plenty of experience. The rest of our girls played in middle school, and all of them play competitively as often as they can. …
“The girls think in terms of strategy, course management, where the right miss is — they play smarter golf than you might expect of players their age.”
Despite their track record of success, Franklin again comes into a tournament as a slight underdog, ranked 19th in the state to Center Grove’s 17th, but that’s nothing new. The Grizzly Cubs were behind the Trojans before county, and they were behind Martinsville before Mid-State.
It mattered not.
Friday figures to be another close battle between Center Grove and Franklin for the title — and while the Grizzly Cubs are coming in confident, they’re also not taking anything for granted.
“I think the girls are as confident as you could reasonably expect,” Kacarab said. “Golf is game where anything can happen, and it typically does. They know they can win. I know they can win. They’re very competitive and want to win. But they know just showing up won’t be good enough — they’re going to have to play well.”
Just being in position to have a chance feels good for Drake, who says she wouldn’t have thought that possible three years ago.
“I’m really grateful for what this year has brought me, because starting as a freshman, none of this was imaginable,” She said. “With this year’s team, I know that we can take the sectional title, so I can’t wait to see what happens Friday.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Whiteland Sectional
At The Legends GC
When: Friday, 8 a.m.
Local teams competing: Center Grove, Franklin, Roncalli, Whiteland
New Palestine Sectional
At The Links GC
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Local teams competing: Greenwood, Greenwood Christian
Bloomington North Sectional
At Cascades GC
When: Monday, 8:30 a.m.
Local teams competing: Edinburgh, Indian Creek
NOTE: Admission is free at all sectional sites. Top three teams and next three individuals at each site will advance to regional round.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
