Iowa City High’s Sarah Overton overcomes back injury for MVC Mississippi Division crown

MARION — Sarah Overton's strength didn't come from a drive, chip or putt.

The Iowa City High senior claimed her latest medalist honor with something that doesn't have a column on a scorecard or stat sheet.

Overton demonstrated her toughness and determination, overcoming a back injury and claiming Athlete of the Year honors at the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division girls' golf meet Monday at Gardner Golf Course.

Overton fired an 81, matching her MVC Super Meet total last week and giving her a two-round total of 162.

'It means a lot,' Overton said. 'It builds my confidence after not having less than great rounds the last couple weeks.'

Doubt had to creep in when she finished pre-meet practice and suffered pain in her back.

'It was the last swing when I was on the driving range this morning warming up,' Overton said. 'I just felt it clinch up. It just hurt so badly.'

She persevered but City High Coach Jerry Hora said things were worse after Overton's third hole. She shot 42 on the front, but rebounded with 39 after the turn, including her lone birdie on the par-5 No. 11.

'To be able to gut it out with a back nine score, other than the double bogey on the last hole, is outstanding,' Hora said. 'It shows a lot of heart on her part.'

Overton held a two-shot lead over Dubuque Hempstead's Abby Tefft and three over Tierney Dalsing, who finished second overall with a second straight 84.

A natural competitive streak took over when pain set in for Overton. She had no choice but to push through it to claim her second straight Mississippi Division crown and fourth first-team all-conference honor.

'I decided not to think too much about it and worry about it getting any worse,' Overton said. 'It was as bad as it could be. I just had to fight through it.

'I don't want any little thing to slow me down. I don't ever want to give up.'

Rain held off until after the round, allowing the meet to be completed. The elements did provide a challenge, but it was just another thing to overcome.

'The wind was the biggest factor,' said Overton, noting it impacted every hole differently. 'Having to adjust to that forced you to be mentally tough and be just another factor.'

Hora has seen Overton's resilience, battling through rough stretches in past rounds to record good scores. He said those intangibles will serve the University of Iowa recruit well.

'You can't measure heart,' Hora said. 'I think her heart and determination is really going to shine next year and years to come.

'We still have things to get done this year. She wants to get back down to state again. She has to work and get a little bit better, but you can't take her heart away from her.'

Hempstead ran away with the team title with a 709 overall total, which was 54 shots better than runner-up City High. The Little Hawks, however, were more competitive with the Mustangs this time, finishing 17 back compared to 40 last week.

City High's Sky Shield joined Overton with first-team honors, shooting 89 for a two-round total of 181 and placing sixth overall. She made a big jump after earning honorable mention honors last season.

'She has worked so hard,' Hora said. 'I think she deserves that honor.'

Cedar Rapids Xavier's Amy Olberding fired 88 and finished with 175, placing third and making the first team. Saints teammate Catie Locher was tied for eighth with Cedar Rapids Washington's Brett Visser and both were second-team performers.

Cedar Rapids Prairie's Peyton Staab also earned second-team honors.

THREE MAKE VALLEY FIRST-TEAM

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Sierra Hargens and Iowa City West duo Jordan Amelon and Mackenzi Marsh earned first-team all-MVC Valley Division honors Monday at The Meadows in Dubuque.

Hargens tied for the best second-round score, carding 81 and finishing one shot off Valley Athlete of the Year Maddie Hawkins of Dubuque Senior. Hargens recorded a two-round total of 151.

Amelon tied for third with 164, shooting 86 Monday. Marsh matched the 86, placing sixth with 167.

Amelon and Marsh powered West to a third-place finish behind champion Cedar Falls (678) and runner-up Senior (693). The Trojans finished with a total of 710, tallying 358 in the second round.

West edged Kennedy by two. The Cougars shot 356 at the divisional.

Kennedy's Katie Choate and West's Avery Kout were second-team performers in the Valley.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE MISSISSIPPI DIVISIONAL

At Gardner Golf Course

(par 72)

Second-round results

Teams — 1. Dubuque Hempstead 360, 2. Iowa City High 377, 3. C.R. Washington 399, 4. C.R. Prairie 415, 5. Waterloo West 421, 6. C.R. Xavier 428, 7. Waterloo East 472.

Individuals — 1. Sarah Overton (ICH), 81, 2. Tierney Dalsing (DH), 84, 3. Amy Olberding (CRX), 88, 4. Sky Shield (ICH), 89, 5. Lindsay Benko (DH), 91.

City High (377): Overton 81, Shield 89, Autumn Moen 103, Lexi Shield 104.

C.R. Washington (399): Brett Visser 94, Devon O'Donnell 97, Grace Claassen 101, Madie Baird 107.

C.R. Prairie (415): Staab 93, Mikayla Winter 104, Emma Rubsam 108, Lexi Poundstone 110.

C.R. Xavier (428): Olberding 88, Catie Locher 97, Shelby Younggreen 118, Hanna Welsh 125.

OVERALL

Teams — 1. Dubuque Hempstead 709, 2. Iowa City High 763, 3, C.R. Washington 806, 4. C.R. Xavier 836, 5. (tie) C.R. Prairie and Waterloo West 842, 7. Waterloo East 942.

First-team — 1. Sarah Overton (ICH), 162, 2. Tierney Dalsing (DH), 168, 3. Amy Olberding (CRX), 175, 4. (tie) Abby Tefft (DH) and Lindsay Benko (DH), 179, 6. Sky Shield (ICH), 181.

Second-team — 7. Hanna Zikuda (WW), 182, 8. Danielle Gorman (DH), 186, 9. (tie) Brett Visser (CRW) and Catie Locher (CRX), 189, 11. Sierra Thurston (DH), 192, 12. (tie) Peyton Staab (CRP) and Audrey Kreiling (DH), 195.

Honorable mention — 14. Isabelle Congdon (WW), 203, 15. Lexi Shield (ICH), 204, 16. Madie Baird (CRW), 205, 17. (tie) Grace Claassen (CRW) and Devon O'Donnell (CRW), 206.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE VALLEY DIVISIONAL

At Dubuque

(The Meadows Golf Club, par 72)

Second-round results

Teams — 1. Cedar Falls 343, 2. Dubuque Senior 349, 3. Dubuque Wahlert 352, 4. C.R. Kennedy 356, 5. Iowa City West 358, 6. Linn-Mar 397, 7. C.R. Jefferson 460.

Individuals — 1. (tie) Maddie Hawkins (DS) and Sierra Hargens (CRK), 78, 3. Hailey Bermel (CF), 82, 4. (tie) Jordan Amelon (ICW), Hannah Bermel (CF), Mackenzi Marsh (ICW), 86.

Kennedy (356): Hargens 78, Katie Choate 92, Nicole DeCoste 92, Valarie Davidson 94.

I.C. West (358): Amelon 86, Marsh 86, Avery Kout 91, Andrea Morgan 95.

Linn-Mar (397): Tori Niemeyer 89, Megan Murphy 98, Alexa Mindrup 104, Kristen Harding 106.

Jefferson (460): Regan Grekoff 97, Emily Smith 108, Jordan Henderson 126, Paige Archer 129.

OVERALL

Teams — 1. Cedar Falls 678, 2. Dubuque Senior 693, 3. Iowa City West 710, 4. C.R. Kennedy 712, 5. Dubuque Wahlert 738, 6. Linn-Mar 780, 7. C.R. Jefferson 944.

First-team — 1. Maddie Hawkins (DS), 150, 2. Sierra Hargens (CRK), 151, 3. (tie) Jordan Amelon (ICW) and Hailey Bermel (CF), 164, 5. Hannah Bermel (CF), 166, 6. Mackenzi Marsh (ICW), 167.

Second-team — 7. Abby Marting (DS), 170, 8. Kenzie Roberts (CF), 176, 9. Alex Miller (CF), 177, 10. Taylor Sernett (CF), 178, 11. (tie) Katie Choate (CRK) and Avery Kout (ICW), 179.

Honorable mention — 13. Mary Edwards (DW), 181, 14. Sara Swift (DS), 183, 15. (tie) Clare Rolinger (CF) and Charlotte Flynn (DW), 184, 17. Tori Niemeyer (LM), 185, 18. Natalie Rapp (DW), 186.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com