PREP GOLF Mooney senior gets trip to state

Katie Dick will be joined by Canfield's Felicia Ciotola and Boardma's Tim Morrow.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Katie Dick wasn't nervous playing. She was nervous waiting.
After finishing her round at last week's district golf tournament, the Cardinal Mooney High senior didn't know whether she had qualified for state.
"It took over an hour until I knew whether I was going or not," Dick said.
By firing a 78 at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Canton and finishing fifth, Dick secured the final qualifying spot in her last chance for the state tournament.
"With the Cleveland schools, we have a tough district," Dick said. "But they added a fifth person and a fifth team [to qualify], and that helped."
Dick, of New Middletown, joins Canfield senior Felicia Ciotola and Boardman sophomore Tim Morrow as the area's Division I representation at state, held Friday and Saturday at Ohio State University.
"I think I'm going to be relaxed because there's no expectations for me," said Dick, who will play the Gray Course. "I just want to have fun, enjoy it and make the best of it."
Dick benefited this season from an improved short game that lowered her per-round average to 38.8, propelling Mooney to a 17-3 record and the Steel Valley Conference title.
"Her course management is really good. She studies every shot closely to make the correct club choice," Mooney coach Stacie Butler said.
Flying high
Dick's playing partner Friday will be Canfield's Ciotola, also a first-time state qualifier, coached by Diane McCall. Ciotola matched Dick's 78 in the district tournament to advance.
"I played in a lot more tournaments this past summer and I really concentrated when I played," Ciotola said. "I've never been that focused before."
Ciotola never set any goals of qualifying for state; she simply wanted to perform to the level of her ability.
"All the practice time finally paid off," she said.
Much of Ciotola's practice time was devoted to chipping and sharpening her short game.
"The players I play with usually hit it a lot farther than me," she said. "I try to play my own game and not compare myself to everyone else."
Ciotola gained motivation for her run to Columbus in last week's district tournament, when she was informed by McCall that the Cardinals were struggling.
"She said the team wasn't doing that great, but for me to do the best I can," Ciotola remembered. "I thought to myself, 'I can't put too much pressure on myself, but I have to try to come through for the team.' "
Two-for-two
Morrow, coached by Jonah Karzmer, earned his second straight trip to the state tournament by shooting a 73 in the district. He also qualified last season as part of Boardman's team.
Although the Spartans were left out as a team this season, they'll be in Columbus to support Morrow.
"It's more of an accomplishment" to qualify as an individual, Morrow said, "but it's not going to be as fun because the team's not [playing]."
Morrow shot 171 (83-88) on the Scarlet Course last year and is hoping to break 80 in each round this weekend.
"I'm a little longer off the tee and I have a better short game," Morrow said. "I'm gonna need [the length] down there because the course is real long."
One year of state experience certainly will help Morrow's cause.
"I'm still going to be nervous because I'm still a sophomore," Morrow said. "But it's not going to be as rough."
XVindicator sportswriter John Kovach contributed to this story.