The
NU High Panthers Golf Team had a great season in 2010, led by two all-state performers Jalen Bergman and Joe Weber.
Bergman finished a stellar four year career for NU in terrific fashion, winning medalist honors at the tough NICL conference
tournament, finishing 3rd in the Sectional Tournament, and 3rd in the District to win his third trip to the State
tournament, where he tied for 13th place. Jalen was a second team all-state selection. Among
Bergman’s career records are the 9th best season scoring average ever and the third highest total ever of
top ten finishes in major tournaments (19.)
Junior Joe Weber, meanwhile, who had one of the best
years in NU History as a sophomore, had an even more amazing 2010 campaign. He was first or second
in 5 different major tournaments, including medalist honors at the post season Sectional Tournament. He
advanced to the state meet for the 3rd straight year, finishing in 9th place. He
is the first NU golfer ever to advance to the state meet twice as an individual performer. Joe was a first
team all-state selection. Joe is now listed on the top five in every major category in NU records,
and finished the season with the second best ever stroke average of 38.35, bettered only by Blake Hibben in 2005.
Joe hopes to chase even more of Hibben’s records next year, including maybe a shot at an individual state title.
Senior Emmett Fritz played # 3 for NU. While he played in the shadow of Bergman and
Weber, as well as stars Ben Peterson and Thomas Creeden in earlier years, Emmett was a major contributor to a great era in
NUHS golf history, which included the 2008 team state championship. He recorded season bests three times,
including a fine round of 78 in the tough District Tournament in his final outing as a Panther.
Other
members of the NU Golf team included senior Will Rector, sophomores Jesse Bankston and Jake Henry, and 9th grader
Kasey Jackson.
Coach Lee Weber noted that the season ended on a bittersweet note at the state
tournament, where both Joe and Jalen had hopes of medals and all-tournament selections; but it was a great year, nonetheless.
“We will really miss our seniors who played with great sportsmanship and class the last four years.
We are hopeful that we will be able to attract more young athletes to the golf program, as this year’s team was
the smallest ever with 7 players.” NU will graduate three seniors leaving major great opportunities
for new players in 2011.
