ADEL - For the seventh time in the past nine years, the Bishop Garrigan girls golf team claimed top honors, as the Golden Bears rolled to another Class 1A crown at the River Valley Golf Club.
Bishop Garrigan fired a second-day total of 351 to finish with a two-day total of 694 and win the team title by 67 strokes over runner-up Grundy Center.
Sheridan Berte finished second overall with a 168, while teammates Alexa Capesius placed fourth, Haley Froehlich earned fifth and Rebecca Richter claimed ninth.
Berte, the lone senior on the team, followed up her 82 with an 86 on Wednesday. Capesius, a sophomore, carded a 171 (83-88), Froehlich a 174 (87-87) and Richter a 181 (91-90). Froehlich and Richter are both juniors.
"The course really caused a lot of problems," BGHS head coach Dean Capesius said. "The variation in the course was different and caused us all kind of trouble. We had trouble adjusting to that."
Capesius, though, was happy to enter the final 18 holes with a lead in the team race, allowing his girls to relax a little on the course.
"Each individual on our team is very proud of their golf," Capesius said. "You can't complain with the team victory, but these kids really were emotional because they wanted to play so much better."
Makayla Foertsch, Brittney Arndorfer and Mallory Schiltz all posted scores as well over the past two days for the Golden Bears.
Garrigan also ran away with the team title last year, shooting a 666 to win by 62 shots over Hinton. Berte, Capesius and Froehlich were each part of that squad, as well.
"Each year, we try to uphold the tradition set by Bishop Garrigan," Capesius said. "We practice and work as hard as we can to maintain that. It doesn't come naturally or easy, and we put the time in."
Berte, who will golf at Mount Mercy University next year, has now been part of three state championship and one state runner-up team over the last four years. The Golden Bears were second in 2010 to Grundy Center by one-stroke.
"Once Sheridan gets the chance to look back on what she's done, she is going to be very proud of her career," Capesius said. "She won't be disappointed in how she played in the state tournament."
Victoria Grasso of Ankeny Christian secured the individual title with a 160 total. Grasso was a repeat winner, having also edged out Berte last year for the crown.
Berte finished third as a sophomore and fourth as a freshman at state.
Dyersville Beckman (2A), Clear Lake (3A) and Waukee (4A) scored the other team titles around the state.