The Bruins’ boys golf team won its first MSHSAA Class 4 state championship since 2011, at the Dalhousie Golf Club, Wednesday May 21 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The team of senior Jackson Dubinski, juniors Matt Echelmeier, Jack Knoesel, Ben Humphreys and sophomore Stephen Sowers posted a two round team score of 640 strokes, eight strokes less than second place De Smet Jesuit High School.

Echelmeier who placed second individually in the tournament with a two-round score of 151 strokes, was instrumental in the team’s narrow victory.

“This year, we had the advantage because four out of our top five had already experienced the pressure of the state tournament,” Echelmeier said. “When we finished, we tried to add up all the scores to see where we stood before everything was officially added up. Nothing but high fives and butt slaps were passed among us.”

Dubinski, the only senior on the team, is going to play golf at Columbia College next year, and appreciates his teammates tremendously.

“We are truly a team, in a sport where most people see it all as individual,” Dubinski said. “I guarantee you that if you asked any of our five guys if they’d rather when state individually or as a team they would pick team. That speaks for itself.”

Coach Doug Daniels was the leader of the five during the tournament, but believes that his role was to reaffirm what the players already knew about their talent.

“These kids are incredibly mentally tough,” Daniels said. “All I have to do is tell them to go out there and play their hardest.”

A moment of euphoria struck the team when they realized they had won the state championship.

“When we realized we won we weren’t completely sure but we just all looked at each other and instant joy hit all of our faces,” Dubinski said. “We were so happy to share that moment because we had been waiting for it the whole year.”
By Luke Chval