Mount St. Joseph Academy golfers celebrate their sixth consecutive PIAA District 1 championship. (Photo by Meghan Mahon)

by Tom Utescher

Over the last two weeks, Mount St. Joseph Academy’s golf team extended its already impressive string of championships both in the Academic Association of Catholic Academies and in the Class AAA (large school) PIAA District 1 tournament.

The AACA’s league championship tournament was introduced in 2003, and the Mount has won it every year, topping Gwynedd Mercy Academy by 10 strokes at the 2018 event on October 1. Competition for the top spot in the District 1 team tournament last Monday at Gilbertsville Golf Club was much tougher.

The situation seemed precarious for the Magic when one of their seniors was forced to withdraw from the tourney, but here is where the Mounties’ team depth really came into play.

The top two golfers for Mount St. Joe’s all season, junior Olivia Wirsching and sophomore Clare Gimpel, shot scores of 77 and 78 respectively. A third individual score would make up the Magic’s team total, and they were facing stiff competition from Downingtown East High School, whose number one, Liddie McCook, fired a five-over 76 at Gilbertsville.

On the day the tournament began, MSJ coach John Mischler learned that senior Lia Priolo would be unable to compete, and he inserted freshman Caroline Gola (a Norwood Fontbonne Academy graduate like Gimpel) into the Mount’s official party of five. Also included in this group were senior captain Brianna Mahon and a second freshman from Norwood, Nora Blatney.

Mahon finished with an 87 and Blatney carded a 91, while Gola came up with one of her best rounds ever, an 81 that allowed the Magic to edge Downingtown East for the District 1 championship, 236 to 237.

Capturing their sixth straight District title, the Mounties would once more be heading to the PIAA state team championships, which will be held, as usual, in York.

The Mounties had a little more breathing room a week earlier in the AACA tournament at Honeybrook Golf Club in Chester County. In the league’s play-eight-count-five nine-hole tourney, the Magic overcame the Monarchs of Gwynedd Mercy, 208-218. Wirshing led with a 36 and Gimpel scored a 39, with Mahon making it around in 42 strokes and Blatney in 45. Gola and sophomore Kelly Reilly each had a score of 46, one of which was used to complete the Mount’s team tally.

Last Monday, the rounds turned in by Wirshing, Gimpel and Gola not only secured the District 1 team title, but also qualified each of them continue playing in the district’s individual championships. It was the first time that Mount St. Joseph had three players still in the running on the second day of the District 1 tourney.

Those who moved on would compete in a regional playoff, an extra step for individual competitors in between the district and statewide tournaments.

After Monday’s team nailbiter at Gilbertsville, more drama would be in store for the Mount as the Magic’s top trio moved to Turtle Creek Golf Course on Tuesday for the second stage of the individual competition.

Only nine golfers would advance to the regional event, and MSJ mentor Mischler related that when Wirsching and Gimpel finished playing they were tied for the ninth spot. A playoff between the two Mounties appeared to be in the offing. However, the girl just ahead on them on the leaderboard was still out on the course.

After she sent her ball into the water hazard on the 18th hole, her short game fell apart on the green and both Mount players were able to move past her and into the Regionals.