A podcast all about Saint Mary’s Athletics. Sitting down with Belles Golf seniors Breana Harrington, Julia Lizak, and Amanda Melling, talking about their favorite golf memories as well as their time at Saint Mary’s over their four years.
#GoBelles | #BelleYeah
Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome in to the newest episode of the Ringing the Bell podcast. This week we bring you not just one, not two, but three very special guests as we welcome in Bell’s golf seniors Brianna Harrington, Julia Lizac, and Amanda Meline. How are you ladies today? Good. How are you? Doing great, actually. So I’m doing well, too. How are we doing for you? I’m doing great. I’m so excited to be here. Yeah. So for you guys, this is your guys’ fourth and final season with Bell’s Golf, just at St. Mary’s in general. What has this kind of time together as teammates and friends meant for you guys? And what have you guys learned from each other over your four years together? First of all, we’ve had a lot of fun together. That’s the main thing. Um, I feel like all of our trips and time staying in little hotel rooms together have been like great for bonding. Um, we love to go do things before and after practice and stuff. So, just being teammates and supporting each other has been amazing. I could easily say that I found my two best friends at this time during or at the oh my god this time at St. Mary’s. Um, I remember when we were just like little baby freshman sitting in the back of the van. Um, I mean, pulling pranks constantly in the van, on the course, in the hotel room, and now we’re like three senior captains leading the team, cheering them on, and just like leading by example. I don’t know. I just like we’ve grown so much. Obviously, yes to everything that they just said. They’re literally my best friends and I’ve had so much fun with them. But my time at St. Mary’s here has just meant a lot to me because I didn’t even want to play golf in college. And then after meeting these two ladies, they’re definitely the reason why I’ve stayed on the team because we’ve went we’ve went through a lot of different teammates together and we’ve all had fun, but they have always been just my best friends. And with you guys going through multiple teammates, like you guys have seen that you guys’ roster change a lot from being freshman to now as seniors, you guys have brought in a lot of good golfers. You guys have also sent away a bunch of good golfers as well with graduation. How have you seen the roster change? But you guys are always still so competitive and one of the best teams in the region. Yeah, whenever we lose someone good, we get someone good, which is really fortunate for us. And I feel like us three um have been able to contribute to the team success for three, four, two of our years. like yeah I think the team culture is the most important thing to the to all of the winning and success that our team has had. Um I mean freshman year we had an incredible team. Um I think it was like 12 girls and everyone was so supportive of each other. We were always motivating each other to I mean just do better every day and always work hard. Don’t get too hard on yourself but also have that competitive nature. I mean, we had a winter kind of like training practice schedule and that really helped motivate us. Um, but I think I mean, as we came into our senior year, we just kept reminiscing about our freshman year and how good the culture was. So, I think that was our biggest goal this season as captains and seniors was just to bring that culture that we had as our freshman year into the team this year. And I mean, it’s been great. Our team this year is really good and I’m excited for the next season. Anything to say? Well, just to go off of what she said about team culture, I think that that’s why we continue to be competitive even when we do lose really good girls because we’re all such like a tight-knit group that we want to be the best player that we can be for each other. So, I think that that’s how we’ve continued to be so competitive these last four years. Going off that too, I feel like if one of us has like a bad day, then someone else is able to be the one that picks up for them. because you guys are constantly every single tournament. It’s not just it’s not based on four people solely. You guys have six competitors every single week who are able to if one person’s having a bit of an off round, you guys can jump right back in as well. But so with the competitiveness, you guys have had some incredible experiences. You guys have gone to nationals the past two years. Kentucky two years ago, and Virginia this past year outside of the Gulf is a bit of an experience for all of us. lot going on, but what have you guys learned from those experiences and just what have you taken from it both into golf as well as outside of golf as well? Uh, first off, like spring break nationals and everything has been such an amazing experience, but I think the biggest motivator for me was freshman year when we I think lost by what 7 11 10 11 strokes um to make it to nationals. After that, it was devastating. like we were so ready. I think we were leading going into it. Um and just every year after that, I remember that feeling of not getting like that win at that final tournament of the MIAA jam jambereeze. Um and that just really drove me to want to make myself and my teammates better and that’s kind of what led us to making the last two nationals. Like we just all remember that feeling at least our year. Um, and it just really makes us want to work harder and get there. And especially after experiencing Kentucky, like seeing nationals, being in that setting and everything just gave us even more motivation to get to then Virginia Beach and hopefully what, California or Texas this year? I think it’s California this year. Like come on, we have to go. Yeah. My favorite part of Nationals is like driving up and seeing like the signs everywhere like welcome to Nationals and then they give you like a ball marker and like all these little gifts and it’s like oh my gosh I really like we made it here. Like it’s the biggest goal. Like I can’t imagine not like accomplishing accomplishing that goal during our four years here. So I’m just so glad we’ve done it the past two years and let’s go back this year. nationals and spring break, but especially nationals last year was such a good time for me because it was my last chance to go and it it taught me a lot about like golf and also friendships. I think that my mindset has definitely shifted since going to nationals of like that was a year where I did really bad and I did really good and yet I still was able to go to such a prestigious tournament with my team and with my friends. So, it’s definitely been taught a lot through our different nationals experiences and spring break and qualifying experiences, but I think that my mindset has definitely improved the last four years. I also think getting to that stage and everything is just really much a reminder of how good of athletes we really are. Like I think after a bad round, after a bad week, we kind of get down on ourselves and I mean you everyone gets in their own head. So just getting to that stage and knowing that we can accomplish that and we are capable of doing all of that. Shooting low scores, going as a team together um and just having a successful season is really what it’s about. And for shooting low scores for you guys, just in my time here over the past year and a half or so, you guys have played some incredible golf as well. Julie, I remember last fall you went 7373 in Illinois Wesley in. Amanda, you just shot 72 yesterday for solo second place. It’s a great round as well. Bri, you shot 75 at nationals last year, the lowest round out of anybody for the Bells at nationals. Like, how have you guys seen yourselves just improve on the course while you you have these great achievements, but also continuing to stay consistent with your scores as well? I think mentality is the biggest thing and that’s taken me four years plus high school to learn. Um I mean after our coach says this year be a goldfish. So I mean you can think about it, dwell on it, whatever for 10 seconds, but after that it’s in the past, focus on the next shot, time to lock in. Um but yeah, I mean I think that’s the biggest thing about being consistent. Like you can have a bad round, everyone has their bad days and everything, but it’s how you like take what you take from that and how you work towards the next round is really what makes the difference. I agree with everything she said. Um, honestly, golf is just so hard. Um, you just have to like stay in it mentally and that’s something that I’ve also worked to get better at. Like throughout high school and all four years, like it still creeps in a little. I still get mad sometimes, but when I tell myself like stop, like this is going this is supposed to be fun. Like just have fun with it. That’s when it makes it easier to do well. I third everything that everyone said, but I would say definitely it’s it’s hard to be consistent because like Amanda said, golf is really hard. But I think my mindset has more shifted from that like a more selfish perspective of I need to shoot really good and being mad that I’m not playing where I want to play to just being happy that I was able to shoot a round that helped out the team in some way with my score counting. So, it’s definitely just about putting things into perspective for me at least and noticing that even if it’s not a round that I wanted to shoot, if it still contributed to the team, then that’s all that matters. Yeah, I agree. And on top of that too, like as you’re playing, like even if you’re not playing as good as you want to play, like you have to stay in it because one or two strokes could make a huge difference at the end of the day, especially in college golf when it’s not just your score there. You guys take four out of five, sometimes five out of six depending on the event. So it’s really a team effort for everything. So it doesn’t matter if you may be a couple strokes off what you want to be, you’re still able to contribute to your team, right? But off the course as well for you guys, how have you guys seen yourselves improve in terms of the classroom? Just personally outside of golf, how have you guys seen yourselves through your time at St. Mary’s just improve yourselves in positive ways that you’ve seen? I feel like the biggest way I’ve improved is like being a little more relaxed. Like I’m still not completely relaxed, but like freshman year, Bri can attest to this and Julia too. I would be studying like ripping my hair out like all the time like I don’t have time for anything. I can’t do this. And then here I am like today I’m still get a little stressed for exams and stuff, but a lot better than I was. So that’s the biggest way I’ve improved. I think maturity and time management skills. I’ve always kind of dealt with um from honestly high school, middle school of dealing with like multiple sports a season, rigorous classes and everything, but I mean in college there’s so much more to that like clubs and everything, social life, acetics, academics. Um so I really just think learning when enough is enough like not to overload yourself because I love and getting involved in so much stuff. So just learning that balance and then focusing on mental health. Um yeah. Um, unlike Amanda, I’d say I’m like very chill. Like, I’m very laid-back, but I would say that, especially now as a senior, looking back at how I was my freshman year and how I’ve acted. I think that I’m much better at prioritizing things now, as well as I’ve become very involved like with SAC and student government, and that’s been great. So, I think that I’ve become a little bit less chill throughout my four years. I care more about things and I just want to contribute to St. Mary’s in the best way that I can. So, for you guys, when you were coming in as freshman, what brought you to St. Mary’s, I know for you guys, you guys are a bit more local in Michigan. Bri, coming from Florida, like how did you find yourselves at St. Mary’s? And then kind of how has your perspective or your views changed of St. Mary’s over your time here? when I was looking at school I was or schools I was looking for like a small school with small class sizes. So that kind of narrowed down my options. Um and then I was like oh I guess I’ll try like St. Mary’s like um I knew of a couple girls who have from my high school that went to St. Mary’s and I was like I guess I’ll go give it a visit and I loved it when I came and honestly the best part about coming here to St. M is like I can play golf at the division three level I can have small class sizes but on the weekends or during the week we can go over to Notre Dame and use their dining hall or go to their football games and stuff like that. So it’s like small school but you get the big school stuff too. I also um I actually really wanted a big school experience at first, division one, the big football games and everything, but as I kind of started looking through schools more. I realized how much or how important the small class sizes, small campus were to me, and then also being able to play golf in college was very important to me. Uh I just couldn’t imagine giving up the game that fast. Um, so I actually reached out I was kind of just reaching out to a bunch of college coaches and the previous coach that we had when we came in as freshman uh reached back out to me a very nice message and everything. So we set up a time for me to visit campus and as soon as I met the girls and everything and like walked around campus, saw the practice facility and everything um I kind of just knew this was the place I was going to be. And then actually um I was going to a golf lesson one day after I already committed and everything and apparently me and Amanda had the same golf instructor and he knew that he she was also um looking into St. Mary’s and she was kind of on like the turn the balance table with one other school and he’s like Julia you need to go convince her right now like go tell her to go to St. Mary’s that you’re going. Um so I did and I’m going to just say that’s the reason why she came here. Thank you, Jason. Thanks, Jason. Thank you, Jason. Well, I actually didn’t know I was coming to St. Mary’s until like early June. I had I was already deposit down at a school in Florida and then St. Mary’s came out with their pathway programs for business. They also have them for engineering, plug. But, um, I just I didn’t really think about it. Like I said, I was very chill back then. I was like, “That sounds like fun. I’ll go.” Because I did want to go to Notre Dame. I’d never even visited St. Mary’s. But then within the first week of being here, especially that first qualifying week in team bonding week, I was like, “This is the best decision I’ve ever made. I mean, I love St. Mary’s. And I love the experiences that I’ve had with the team.” Wait, sorry, I forgot to mention about engineering. That’s another reason I came here. Um, because of that opportunity to still play golf at a competitive level. D3 while still getting that big school experience like I said I wanted and um the academics from it as well. Can you just like merge that together with what I was saying earlier? I don’t know. Uh and so as you guys are like we said before you guys are in your final year at St. Mary’s Bri in your last couple months as well. What are you guys looking forward to as we head into the future, graduation soon, moving into the out you guys will be done with school, out of college, into the real world now. What are you guys looking forward to, but also kind of that you may be a little bit nervous, but you’re ready to have happen. I’m honestly a little bit like sad about leaving all my friends here. Like I love walking around campus and seeing girls I know like every single day. But I’m also excited for whatever comes next. I’m currently applying to occupational therapy school. So I’ll still be in school a couple years, but so I’m looking forward to that and eventually after that getting a job in OT. So can’t wait. Um I honestly don’t think St. Mary’s could have prepared me anymore. I had my first internship this last summer which went great. I got it through connection and that working at St. Mary’s. Um, but I will be finishing my second degree over at Notre Dame for so I’ll be I’ll still be here for a year, don’t worry. Um, but after I get that, I will be in the real world. I think the internship helped with that experience makes me feel a little less worried. Um, but yeah, going into the world and technology um, and golf honestly really is probably going to be beneficial for all of us. I think all the networking happens on the course. You can go on corporate business trips. Um, so I’m excited for all of it. I think everything I got from St. Mary’s is definitely gonna follow me and help me in my future. I will also be here for another year. Don’t worry, Taylor. I’m going across the street. I’m getting my masters. Well, Bri, I know especially you and Julia, Amanda, hopefully you’re sticking around as well. We love having you guys around. Of course, I’m right across the hall from Kristen. I love seeing you guys just pop in every now and again. Amanda, I saw you this morning. We love just having you guys all around the office as well. We love you, Taylor. Do you guys have anything for incoming freshman or even your current first year teammates, sophomores who are kind of looking both into St. Mary’s and looking ahead? Anything to help prepare them for their journey through college as well? My biggest advice is enjoy it and have fun with it. Don’t get too overwhelmed and stressed. Like, it’s easy to do and it’s easy to worry about each little quiz, exam, project grade that you get, but have fun with the sport that you play. Have fun with your teammates. You’re going to be friends with these girls forever. We still talk with our teammates that graduated. We just saw one the other day. And like, it’s just so so much fun to have like automatic best friends on your team. I second that. I would say just have fun, be involved in whatever like makes you interested on campus. Pour a lot of time into the friendships with the girls here because St. Mary’s is the best place on earth in my opinion. And don’t gaff. Um, going off of that, I think the friendships and everything that you make here last time a lifetime. Like I I mean we’re cuz we laugh so much here. I don’t know. Um, but I mean we were in the airport traveling to spring break and some girl saw our St. Mary’s merch and rings and everything and she immediately came up to us, St. Mary’s alum. So, I mean there’s just so many connections you have postgrad here. Um, but advice I would say work hard but don’t overload yourself. Enjoy every moment because it flies by. Like I cannot believe we’re sitting right here right now as seniors like looking back at our last four years. Like I think we’re still freshman pulling pranks in the hotel rooms, pouring ice water over each other. Yeah, it just goes by so fast. But so don’t get too hard on yourself or don’t be too hard on yourself. Um and just really appreciate like the opportunities you have here. So now we’re going to start with something new we haven’t done yet. We’re going to go into some rapid fire questions for you guys. So, don’t feel like you need to answer these as quickly as you can, but just quick short answer questions. Who do you hate traveling with most on the team? Taylor, myself, honestly, I’m because I’m the person that one sp we got back at 4 4 a.m. from Virginia. I was done with everything. And us, Taylor. Oh, I I imagine so. Four rounds of golf. I know. I I w I walked and trip that came. I mean, everybody in this office knows I’m clumsy on the golf course. So, but Okay. So, starting off, we’ll go some golf. We’ll go some outside of golf as well. First off, what is your guys’ favorite club? Um, putter, nine iron, driver. What is your guys’ Starbucks order? Vanilla sweet cream cold brew venti. Uh iced brown sugar shake and espresso. I get Duncan, but it’s a caramel cold brew with cold foam. What is your guys’s favorite course that you’ve played? Bluejack. Isn’t that bluejack? Yeah, I think it’s Bluejack. Go. Bayou Club in Florida. Oh, what is it called? It’s in Michigan. Why am I forgetting it? Arcadia Bluffs. Who is your guys’ favorite professional golfer? Nelly Corda. Nelly Corda or Cam Smith. Victor Havland. Hot take. Mr. Mullet. Hey, he did well for the US at the Ryder Cup this year, so it’s pretty good. What is your guys’ golf superstition? If I’m playing well, I can’t like and I have like layers on. Like if it’s cold out, but I’m starting to get hot, like if I’m playing well, layers stay on. Um, this is kind I’m not even going to say it about eating. So, next person. I kind of agree with that. Like I will not take off my quarter zip if I’m doing good, even if I’m like really hot. On the flip side of this, I will not start around, almost never with layers on because I can’t stand swinging in layers. So they know in like 50 40°ree weather, Brianna will be in her skirt and her top because I don’t like layers. Understandable. That is very true. What is your guys’s favorite memory just on a golf course with St. Mary’s outside of St. Mary’s. This isn’t a favorite memory, but it’s a memory I’ll never forget. When I tried to drag my push car through the woods and I got really mad thorns sticking on my clothes and stuff. You left out the part where you left it for your mom to go get it. Yeah, I did get mad and leave it in there. And my mom did grab out of the woods for me. Were you the one that saw her drive by on a golf cart? Yes. Another memorable memory of mine from Amanda would be when we were qualifying down in Florida during spring break and Amanda drives down with Joanna, shout out Joe, in the cart. And Amanda’s driving hysterically sobbing and looks at me and goes, “I don’t want to do this anymore.” And Joanna just looks frightened that she’s in the cart with Amanda. Funniest thing ever. Okay, mine’s not as funny. It’s kind of cliche, but just like walking up or like standing on top of the green and watching all my teammates walk up when we won that first, what was it? Sophomore year. Um, at least the time I was here, like the first MIAA championship to go to nationals. But I mean, there’s so many funny memories. We could talk about this the rest of the day. Who for you guys is the who is the team comedian on the golf team? That was a very quick answer. I’m gonna send out a petition to sign it so she’ll start her own podcast because everyone tells her she needs to and I think she just needs a little more motivation, too. I can see it. Do you have any words to say Mrs. podcast? It will be dropping soon. Link in bio. What is a hidden talent that you guys have? I can juggle like four times. Um, a hidden talent. I was a figure skater, so I can ice skate pretty well. I play the piano. It’s not a talent though. I practice. That’s It’s more talent than honestly I can’t touch piano. Do I have one, guys? Yes. What can I Oh, I can play piano man on the harmonica. I was gonna say I thought Bri, you were the you were the harmonica. I’m just back up. Learned it. She could actually do the song. What is kind of a pet peeve for you guys on the golf course? Like if you see someone doing it, like it just rubs you the wrong way. Either when they stand like right next to me when I’m teeing off, like on the tea box, they’re right at the edge of it. So, I literally can see them hovering over me or like same on the putting green when they’re like standing in my line of view and I can Yeah, I don’t know. It just kind of irks me. I don’t know why this bothers me because it’s like the normal thing to do, but I hate when people ask me my score as I’m walking off the putting green. Like, I don’t know why it bugs me so much, but like it just does. That would be one of mine. Especially after it’s a really bad hole and I’m trying to collect myself and then all of a sudden someone’s like, “What do you have?” Like, I don’t know. I need both of my hands to count it really quick. But that’s about that and slow people who are not good. Like, baby, you don’t need to do three practice swings if you’re going to top it. Like, let’s be realistic. If you’re not going to play, we’ll play fast. That’s how it should always be. That’s why I get through rounds quickly. Well, that and you’re falling and you’re rolling over at the court. I’m trippy and I fall into the golf cart and I’m just ready to go. That’s how it goes. Okay, so I’m going to turn this back on you guys from the last nationals trip who was not the worst person to travel with, but who who kind of made it a little bit difficult? We started so many problems with this guys. So, everyone Taylor Hollow, apparently it’s me only because I’m talking all the time. Uh, Bri and I did like take a couple laps around the Detroit airport when we were stuck there for 11 hours about 10 miles. What did you want for lunch? Chili’s. I saw a chili in that. That’s all I wanted. never done before. I’m going to stay silent on this one. I got in trouble for my last answer last year. It wasn’t even you got cuz I remember specifically the very first round when we got there. I was on the back of the cart cart with you guys. I forget which hole it was, but a super uphill climb. I think it was the number on top of our cart fell off. And my smart plan was to jump off the cart as we’re still going. That did not turn out well. That I think that’s when I started. So you fell again for the first time. I didn’t even know that you fell. I know you got It wasn’t like a full on pull, but it was like a little stumble. You You had to run to catch up. Yes. And then I had to sprint back up the hill just to get back where you I remember that you were on the back. Do you remember that you singing the Luke Combmes fast car song? you the best car. Isn’t that your favorite? I mean, I love Luke Holmes. He did just release a new song. It’s coming in underneath next year. There is hopefully Thursday and find out. Say thank you so much for coming out and ringing the bell real quick. We’re going to take a break. We’re going to send it to Payton who’s going to give us our weekly recap and look take a look back at what’s happened in Bell’s athletics. Hi, I’m Payton and welcome back to your Bell’s weekly recap. To start it off, Bell’s cross country ran in the Louisville Classic where they finished 40th of 49 teams. Junior Savannah Pollson ran a 2426 leading the Bells and was closely followed by both junior Cecilia Conrad running a 2443 and junior Jordan Saminsky who ran a 2448. On top of that, the Bells also ran in the women’s 5K silver race where they were led by freshman Megan Mlan who ran a 2158 for the Bells. Bell Soccer hosted Calvin on Saturday where they fell 5-0. Freshman Mia Johnson would make three shots and two shots on goal. Four other Bells would also total one shot each. Sophomore Danielle Escobido and senior Janelle Alo would each have one shot on goal. Additionally, sophomore goalkeeper Kiana Carabio would come in for Megan Crraer after the 10th minute when she suffered an injury and make three saves on the day. Bell’s volleyball hosted Hope at Home to celebrate their annual Dig Pink game. Unfortunately, they fell 300, but the game was extremely close. Sophomore Calli Lucowski would lead the team with 11 kills and junior Caroline Kins would have nine kills, following close behind. Sophomore setter Juliana Grazik would have 15 assists, while junior setter Abby Reese would follow behind with 13. Additionally, seniors Delaney Martin and Carly Fagan would both lead the team with 10 digs. And the team itself would have a total of three blocks. Bell’s golf competed in MIA Jamberee number three where they finished first of nine teams and shot a 312 overall. Senior Amanda Meling had a second place solo finish where she shot one under 72, a career low for her. Additionally, sophomore Melanie Meyer had a T4 finish, shooting a 78. And senior Bana Harrington had a T11 finish, shooting 7 over 80. Bells volleyball is back in action Wednesday at Try before traveling to play Calvin on Tuesday. Bell’s tennis continues their season on the 10th against Indiana East and Anderson. Bell’s golf will conclude their fall play on Saturday at MIAA Jamberee number four. and Bell Soccer will celebrate senior day by hosting Adrian on Saturday before hosting Ovette next Tuesday. That was your Bell’s weekly recap. Thank you so much for listening and make sure to follow Belle’s athletics on all social media platforms so you can stay up to date with the latest St. Mary’s Athletics news. Belle Julia made say thank you guys one last time for coming on Ring the Bell. Definitely one of the more exciting episodes that we’ve had. Hopefully you guys had a lot of fun. You guys have anything else that you want to add for? So you guys are coming up, you guys have your final event of the fall this year, but then preparing for the spring season for you two. You guys have anything that you want to add going forward she want people to know about as we look forward to hopefully you guys want to message? Oh yes, Morgan’s message on Saturday. We’re going to we got all the schools in our conference to um like or Alma like is letting us dedicate the entire like round to show. That would be awesome. Uh roll smick and let’s win. Go bells. Oh yeah. Everyone, I just want to give a quick apology for the technical issues towards the end of this week’s episode of the Ring the Bell podcast, but I hope you did enjoy our sit down with our Bell’s golf seniors. Make sure you stay tuned for next week’s episode and make sure that you follow Bell’s Athletics on all social media platforms. Stay tuned with everything St. Mary’s Athletics. Have a great day everyone.
