Fore the love of the game

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By Bryan Ault, April 22, 2010

"Patience is a virtue," Stephens said. "You have to learn that bad things are going to happen. You just need to accept them, but try not to make them happen or cause them to happen and move on. It's already done, so don't make the mistake any worse than it already is."

 

Stephens, a member of the Grizzly women's golf team, has played golf since sixth grade.

"I love that golf is not perfect," Stephens said. "That's true of any sport, but every time I walk down the course, I learn something. I just love playing."

 

"She's very determined," senior Grace Adams said. "She keeps her thoughts focused on golf. She's really dedicated to playing her best for us, not just for herself."

 

Stephens owes her introduction to the sport to her family.

 

"My family was a big golfing family," Stephens said. "My brother was really at it and into it. I would go with them and put-put, but I thought, if three members of my family are going to play, I might as well try."

 

Stephens was a three-sport athlete during her freshman year at Whiteland Community High School, where she played softball, basketball and golf. A surgery on her legs prevented her from pursuing her basketball career any further than her freshman year.

"I have chronic exertional compartment syndrome," Stephens said. "There's a lining around my calf muscles. When you use it, it releases pressure. Mine will not release correctly."

 

Stephens learned of the condition after having pain in her calves during her eighth and ninth grade years.

 

"It just, kind of, happened," Stephens said. "It's a lot better. My calves still get really tight when I walk, but not nearly as much pain. On the golf course, I walk really long distances. I'll touch my toes. It helps release pressure."

 

Stephens continued to play softball through her junior year, but focused on golf as a senior. She quickly emerged as a leader.

 

"[High school golf] was a more relaxed thing," she said. "It was cool, though, because a lot of the girls looked up to me and really admired me. It was cool to be that kind of model for them."

 

"She was very mature for a high school player," said Whiteland girls golf coach Katie Gunn. "She was very responsible. That maturity and awareness on the golf course has grown. She has that persona of being a leader and taking charge."

 

Because she aspires to become a teacher, Franklin was a logical choice.

 

"I flip-flopped between elementary ed and secondary ed, but secondary is math and I love math," Stephens said. "Franklin has a great education program and I could play golf."

 

She also came to Franklin because she had heard of coach Roger Lundy.

 

"Roger is awesome," Stephens said. "He has that little quality about him where he knows when to talk to me or leave me alone. He always says he's 'one of the girls.'"

 

Lundy said Stephens has high expectations of herself.

 

"When she doesn't play the way she wants to play, that's where the frustration comes in," Lundy said. "She has her moments, but I think that's because of her high expectations."

 

Lundy also said Stephens hates to lose.

 

"She's not into failure," he said. "She likes to win."