There’s reason for pain

DECORAH - Yes! Yes! Come on!

I had just drained my birdie putt on my last hole, and I don't think I have ever been more fired up in my life. I shot even par on the back 9. I was extremely proud of myself for this. After shooting 6-over-par on the front nine, I had focused and shot the kind of round that would send my team to state.

We knew we had to put four scores in the 70s, and I had done my part. Now it was time for the drama of finding out how everyone else played.

Simultaneously, all of the golfers were finishing up their rounds. In golf carts, coaches and golf course staff were flying out to every hole to pick up the golfers and begin the process of determining whether or not their performances were enough to get the job done. Piled on the back of golf carts, we looked like we were storming the beach as we rode up the giant hill to get to the clubhouse.

During the assault, my cart pulled up next to Sam, my teammate. I was so pumped up, but I couldn't yell because golfers from other teams surrounded us.

'What did you shoot? I shot 36 on the back and 76 overall. We're gonna make it. Sam, we're gonna make it,” I said.

'Pipe down, Reese. Act like you've been here before,” Sam scolded.

Sam had shot a 72 and we were half way home. Once we got to the clubhouse, Bryce was already finished with another 76. I paced around the outside of the clubhouse holding in an outburst of joy as my body trembled with excitement. I could hear the piercing firetruck sirens now, usually sounding at the sign of danger, but instead announcing the joy after winning a state tournament. I could picture the championship ceremony, and our coach proudly placing the numbers 2014 on the state golf championship banner while trying not to fall off the ladder.

Then Derek and Reid shuffled sadly in. Both had scratched out an 84, and that just wasn't going to get us there. Now pure excitement spiraled into despair. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios, and I began to nervously twitch from head to toe. It was a feeling comparable to waiting for an MRI result. I was scared for the worst, but at the same time I had desperately hoped that everything would turn out.

We played six golfers. Five were in, and our chances were not looking too good. It all came down to the sixth man. Connor's round now determined the fate of the Decorah boys' golf team.

'How do you want your eggs Benedict this morning, Princess? Make sure to tell them that the English muffins have to be crispy this time.”

My friends and I cried out with laughter as we sat at the large table in the middle of The Family Table restaurant. Last week before the sectional meet, Sam's eggs Benedict was not up to par for his noble standards. He had to have the muffins crispy this time, and that's what he was going to get. Just then our coach strolled in. We thought we were in for it. We all could hear him now: 'Boys, that is not the way we represent our school.” But to our surprise, he joined in on the joke. 'Wow, you're high maintenance, Sam - worse than my wife.”

Then the Decorah boys' golf team began laughing even harder. It was a great start to the day. I could see the confidence beaming from my teammates' faces. We knew we had a solid chance at competing in the state tournament. We just had to buckle down and do it. All it was going to take was shooting our average, playing smart and focusing.

'Time to head out,” coach commanded. As we meandered out the doors and into the parking lot, a kind couple exclaimed, 'Good luck gentlemen, go get 'em!” We all nodded, smiled and of course said, 'Thank you.”

Van rides give me time to clear my mind of anything else and just focus on golf. What shot am I going hit on No. 3 tee? Should I hit using a 4- or 3-iron on No. 9? I would rather be short than long on my approach shot to No. 4. Thoughts like these run through every good golfer's brain before any competitive round. These are essential to success on game day. Everyone on the team had his own way of doing this. Matt was watching the best golf movie ever made: 'The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Bryce fell asleep listening to music. Connor, Sam, Reid and I were playing euchre. And Derek, who was demoted to ride shotgun, was half sleeping and half keeping Coach entertained (by listening to him talk about how he has lunch every year with Bo Ryan at the Final Four, a story we all have heard multiple times). Before we knew it, we had arrived at the Waverly Municipal Golf Course.

Stretching out of the van gives me a mixed feeling between proud and nervous. As I strolled confidently to the practice tee, I could feel the rest of the competition glaring at my teammates and me. We were the team to beat, the two-time defending district champs, and we caught competitive glares from every single player at the meet.

The feeling of pressure was imminent. I felt ready.

The wait for Connor was incredibly nerve racking. My body was shaking with a combination of nerves and excitement. The rest of the teams were almost in, and the speculation of where we stood put me on edge. At this point I felt like I was floating, my body was numb, and all I could think about was the fate of my team.

Connor's group was the second to last to come in. Finally he came up over the hill, a huge smile on his face. My teammates and I rushed over to him faster than The Beatles groupies during the British invasion.

The first words he smirked to us were, 'I triple bogeyed my last hole.” My heart stopped. 'But still shot 77.” And just like that it started right back up again. This was it. Connor had pulled through and the Decorah boys' golf team was going to the state tournament.

I ran into the clubhouse to call my dad. I couldn't wait to tell him the good news. His sons were going to the state tournament, a feat which no Drenth had ever accomplished. Before I could hit the call button, Derek came inside looking for me. His head was down and he shuffled slowly over to me.

'You better come outside,” he murmured sadly.

I nervously peeked my head out of the door to find the rest of my team lying in the grass, heads down. The final group had come in. We were in third place by two strokes. The top two teams advance to state.

My heart sank and I fell flat on the ground.

I learned incredible lessons from that experience. I learned to 'never put the cart before the horse.” I learned how to handle extreme heartache. I learned when I think I'm working hard, I may not actually be using my full potential. I learned how to be a solid teammate. And most importantly, I learned not to ask myself the question 'Why?”

I know why it happened. It wasn't to put our team in misery. It wasn't because the world hated us. It happened to teach us something. That singular day taught me to work harder than I've ever worked at something. To go at life with a killer instinct. That one competition has made me a grittier, stronger, better person.

Whenever I think about it, I get extremely motivated to tackle anything that's in my way. That is why it happened. And you can guarantee when this year's district golf tournament comes up, I'll do anything within my power to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again.