116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Home / Sports / Iowa High School Sports
Iowa City Liberty proves preseason potential behind strong start powered by senior Isabella Pettersen
Pettersen has earned medalist honors in the first two meets of the season
K.J. Pilcher
Apr. 10, 2024 4:01 pm, Updated: Apr. 17, 2024 7:37 pm
IOWA CITY – Iowa City Liberty Coach Brian Wernimont realized his team had promise in the preseason.
The Lightning proved his assessment correct.
“Unlimited potential with about 20 brand new kids,” Wernimont told The Gazette. “It does take a long time to get good but we definitely have some potential in newer players.”
Liberty won its opening quadrangular of the season and finished runner-up to Cedar Rapids Washington at a Mississippi Valley Conference quadrangular Tuesday at The Meadows Golf Club in Dubuque. The Lightning’s Isabella Pettersen claimed medalist honors in both meets, carding 38 Tuesday.
“Good start is certainly helped by having (one of) the best players in the state leading the way,” Wernimont said. “A couple other seniors, a steady sophomore and junior combo, plus two freshmen in the mix, have us off to good start.”
The Lightning rank 21st among all classes with a 190.6 combined adjusted average. They climb to 12th in 4A only. Liberty finished first at Airport National, shooting 164 and winning by 31 strokes. They followed with 188 Tuesday, 19 back of the Warriors.
Pettersen leads the way with a 38.5 CAA. Claire Franzwa (50.15), Leona Rupp (50.65) and Sydney Hested (52.65) round out the top four, while Ella Berns and Layla Langseth round out the lineup.
“We were able to get a lot of the young players, and new players, some swings over the winter by having Pinseekers in Tiffin open this winter,” Wernimont said. “The open gyms gave them lots of swings they otherwise may not have had access to.”
Pettersen remains to be the Lightning’s leader. She placed third at the 2021 and 2022 4A state meets and is a two-time MVC Mississippi Division Player of the Year. Pettersen is off to a strong start, despite still healing from double-hip surgery last summer.
“She just won’t let herself fail,” said Wernimont, noting that a conflict with a previously scheduled appointment will keep from a rescheduled meet Thursday. “Even though her swing is still trying to be recreated after her surgery she finds a way to shoot good scores and so far has been able to come out on top.”
CRANDIC MEET NEXT WEDNESDAY
The CRANDIC meet is one of the highlights to the girls’ golf season. The annual event that pits the Cedar Rapids, Marion and Iowa City high schools will be held Wednesday, April 17, at Twin Pines Golf Course in Cedar Rapids.
The event features three top-14 teams among all classes. Linn-Mar is fifth in team combined adjusted average at 173.10. Washington is 11th with 183.60 CAA and Xavier is 14th at 185.20.
The individual race includes Lions’ 4A state champion Morgan Rupp and the Warriors’ state runner-up Jane Petersen. They are joined by past top-10 state meet finishers Pettersen (4A) and Xavier’s sister duo Meera and Mehar Julka, who accomplished it in 3A.
Linn-Mar is the defending team champions, seven ahead of Xavier, which won a tiebreaker over Washington for runner-up honors a year ago. Four of the top-five finishers from last year, including runner-up Petersen and teammates Mya Messenger and Lily Belle Barker, who tied for fifth. Morgan Rupp was third and Mehar Julka was fourth.
WASHINGTON, IOWA, BOYS AMONG 3A LEADERS
The boys’ golf team at Washington, Iowa, ranks among the 3A leaders. The Demons are third in 3A with a 157.40 combined adjusted average. Defending state champion Roman Roth fired 34 for medalist honors in Monday’s meet at Elks Fairview Golf Course in Keokuk.
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com