In girls golf, no one has had a Swing Dynasty like Omaha Marian.

The Crusaders were the first team in any class to win five consecutive titles, and a sixth straight Class A title seems likely. They return the top three golfers from last year’s team that won the 36-hole tournament at Norfolk Country Club by 65 strokes.

At Marian’s season-opening tournament Tuesday at Ironwood, sophomore Sarah Pravecek led a 1-3-4 finish for the Crusaders as they cruised to a 49-stroke win. Jordan Rearick was third and Erin O’Brien, the 2009 state runner-up, was fourth.

“We lost two really good seniors,’’ said Rearick, who’s been 12th, fourth and fourth at state. “We’re trying to fill the fourth and fifth spots. We hope they can shoot somewhere in the 90s.’’

They did Tuesday. Junior Marie McNamara and senior Joselyn Wojtalewicz each broke 100 to place in the top 10. Clare Troia also is vying for a varsity spot.

Marian’s championship reign is notable in several ways. There have been three coaches involved: Tara Whipp in 2005, Faye Ford in 2006 and the school’s longtime girls basketball coach, Jim Miller, the past three years. Miller no longer is coaching basketball.

In the five state tournaments, 17 of the 25 Marian golfers placed in the top 15. Mary Narzisi was champion in 2005 and 2006, the latter a year in which all five Crusaders medaled.

Three have graduated and gone on to Division I women’s golf. Narzisi is a senior at Minnesota. Kylie Smith (the oldest of three sisters on the title teams) is a senior at Idaho State, and Maggie Kersenbrock is a senior at Creighton.

Not every title has been a runaway. In 2007 and 2008, Marian won in playoffs against Fremont and Norfolk, respectively.

“There’s not a better feeling being up there and being recognized as the best team,” Rearick said. “You’re with the girls working all year, and to finally achieve your goal, that’s the best feeling.’’

An individual sport such as golf sometimes precludes a team atmosphere, but Rearick and Pravecek said that’s not the case at Marian.

“You’re worrying about yourself and your game, but you’re playing with teammates and bonding with them with things like dinners and sleepovers,’’ Rearick said. “You get more concerned about them and how they’re doing, and at the same time it takes the load off your shoulders.’’

Pravecek said the team aspect swayed her last summer to attend Marian instead of Millard North, where she would have followed her older siblings.

“I was golfing with (Marian players) all the time, and they kept telling me I should go there,’’ she said. “My dad and I decided to try it one year, and it was easy to decide to stay.’’

Pravecek’s golf teacher is Jon Petersen from Miracle Hill. Rearick works with Mike Cornell from Oak Hills. Where Miller fits in, the girls said, is as a motivator.

“He’s really positive,’’ Pravecek said. “That helps. It’s nice having him talk to me because it relaxes me and calms me down.’’

Rearick likes how Miller mixes in humor with encouragement,

“If you have a bad hole, he’ll come over and makes you laugh,’’ she said. “It brings up your spirits.’’

Contact the writer:

444-1041, stu.pospisil@owh.com

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