Tradition Never Graduates

In a game where domination is hard to come by, the Berlin girl's golf team has been as dominant as any team in the state.

In the five years before the CIAC started running the girls championship, Berlin won four state titles. In the 10 years since the CIAC has run the girls championship tournament, Berlin has finished in the top four six times, capped by its second straight state championship Tuesday at Orange Hills Country Club in Orange. Berlin finished with a team total of 348 while Farmington shot 355.

And here's some bad news for the rest of the girl's teams in the state, the dynasty doesn't look like it is coming to an end any time soon.

In a year when the Redcoats felt slighted by the all the media attention rival Farmington was getting, Berlin had the last laugh with titles in the CCC West Division, a CCC Tournament championship and now finally back-to-back state championships. Farmington finished second, seven shots back.

"The best thing that could have happened to us this year was to lose the non-conference match to Farmington," Berlin coach Jim Barnes said. "From that time on, we had a lot more attention at practice and we played harder. We played pretty good but we got smacked at Farmington. We had a new intensity and a new look in our eyes."

Barnes had a good feeling after his first player came off the course today. The fifth players went out first followed by 4, 3, 2 and 1. Berlin's No. 5, freshman Ashley D'Attilio shot a solid 88 and qualified for the New England Tournament in Keene, N.H. with the score. She shot 46 on the front and 42 on the back, which is a par 38. Farmington's number five, Jamie Bartucca, shot 97. Emily Deutsch came in next with a 44-50-94 while Farmington's Haley Campbell shot 98. Emily Stickel shot a solid 91 while Farmington's Michelle Sangeloty carded a 96.

"I felt pretty good but you never know what the Whaley sisters are going to shoot," Barnes said of Farmington freshman Kelly and senior Jenn Whaley, daughter of PGA Professional Suzy Whaley. "We needed Julia Kemmling to maintain her really good play and Victoria Fagan to stay close to Jenn. I flipped Julia to No. 2 because she is very comfortable playing with Kelly because they are such good friends. And it went according to plan."

Kemmling shot 38-42-80, second only to Kelly Whaley's Medalist honors 78. Fagan shot 89 and Jenn Whaley shot 84.

Barnes said the key was D'Attilio's 88.

"She gave us a huge lift and the reason we won was because of 3-4-5," Barnes said. "High school golf is usually not won by a top player but a team with depth. We showed our depth today and the last few tournaments for that matter. If one girl has a bad day the other girls pick it up for her. That's what championship teams do.

"I'm so happy for the kids, they really worked hard and they are so, so happy," Barnes said. "It is very satisfying. Farmington seemed to get all the notoriety and rightly so because they are a very good team and have two incredible players. But our kids have a lot of pride and they didn't think they were given the proper respect outside of the town. They proved they are a marquee team."

Berlin will lose two senior co-captains in Fagan and Stickel, both heading to college to play golf.

"They are both great kids but they couldn't have started out any different," Barnes said. "Fagan had game when she came in as a freshman but Stickel was just starting out. If you had told me Stickel would be an All-State player when she was a freshman I don't think I would have believed you. She did it with hard work and she earned everything she got. Victoria struggled a bit this year working on her swing but she stepped it up in the biggest matches and tournaments of the year.

"Those are going to be some big shoes to fill. You know Farmington is kind of a rah-rah team with hands in a huddle and cheering, you don't get that from us. The two seniors lead by example. They are here every Sunday night and get the other players to come and practice. They lead by example."

Kemmling, Fagan, Stickel and D'Attilio made All-Conference. Kemmling, Fagan, Stickel and Deutsch made the All-CCC Tournament Team. Kemmling, Fagan and Stickel made All-State and Kemmling and D'Attilio qualified for the New England Tournament.

Deutsch and Caroline D'Attilio will be seniors next season. Caroline D'Attilio started on last year's state title team but couldn't crack the top-five this year. Kemmling and Ashley D'Attilio will be sophomores and they should form the top four. Barnes said he has some very talented freshmen in Abby Underwood and Kelsey Anderson along with others who will fight for that fifth spot.

"We're going to be good in the top four," Barnes said. "We'll have to find that number five but it will be fun to see what we can do and keep this thing rolling. On the way home, I asked Julia Kemmling if she remembered where she was a year ago today. She said she did. When the bus pulled into Timberlin last year after we won, she and her dad were on the range. Now she is part of the tradition. The girls know the tradition and feel fortunate to be part of it. We just want to keep feeding that pipeline."

Other top CIAC finishes in the last 10 years: 2003, 4th; 2005, tie 3rd; 2006, 2nd; 2010, 4th' 2011, 1st; 2012; 1st. During that time were two streaks of 50-plus consecutive dual match wins and two streaks of 30-plus dual match wins.