Prior to the sectional golf tournament, Helias coach Dan Mathes had a simple message for the Lady Crusaders.
"Just relax and play your normal game, none of you have to shoot out of your minds," Mathes remembered telling the five players. "We just want to finish first or second as a team and move on state."
Then, as a joke, he added, "But if you want to shoot your personal best, go ahead."
Four of the five players did just that as Helias shot its best team score of the season by 15 strokes to win the sectional.
Is Mathes going back to that well today as the Lady Crusaders begin play in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Championships at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield?
"No, no," he said with a laugh. "Probably just the "relax and play your normal game' part."
The Lady Crusaders are one of nine teams bidding for the team title. Helias is paired with MICDS, Pembroke Hill and John Burroughs in today's opening round. The four claimed sectional team titles.
"We've earned the right to play with the players from the top teams," Mathes said. "We shouldn't be intimidated, we aren't playing the other players, we just need to take care of ourselves.
"It's a long two days. We just need to play the course one shot at a time."
The Lady Crusaders, who dropped from Class 2 to Class 1 this year, are trending the right way. Helias shot a season-best 343 to win the district team title, then improved to a 328 to take sectional honors.
The sectional title was a true team effort. Helias, looking for its first team trophy at the state championships since finishing third in 2007, had one player shoot in the 70s with the other four posting scores in the 80s.
"That's what we've been working for all season," Mathes said. "Hopefully it will continue."
Jenna Kosmatka will be making her third state tournament appearance for the Lady Crusaders. The senior earned all-state honors last season, tying for 13th at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club.
Kosmatka rebounded from a tough first hole to tie for ninth at the sectional tournament with an 82.
"Jenna is a great competitor and she showed that by battling back like she did after that first hole," Mathes said.
Lauren Plunkett, a junior, led Helias at the sectional by tying for second with a 76. Plunkett is making her second state championship appearance. She tied for 53rd last season.
"She putted really well, that was the key," Mathes said. "Her ball-striking has been fine all year."
Mathes is looking for Kosmatka and Plunkett to pass along tips to their teammates about the unique experience of playing at a state championship.
"I've noticed over 20 years as a coach, a player usually doesn't shoot their normal score in the first round at state," he said. "It's a different environment than most of them have played in all year."
Alex Nelson, a freshman, tied Kosmatka with an 82 at the sectional.
"She manages her way around the course and avoids the big numbers," Mathes said. "She has shown a tremendous amount of poise for a freshman. She's gotten better and better as the season has gone along."
Ashton Lorts, a junior, tied for 17th at sectional with an 88.
"She's really played well the past couple of weeks," Mathes said.
Luci Francka, another junior, rounds out Helias' qualifiers after shooting an 89 at sectionals to tie for 19th.
"Her confidence has grown throughout the season," Mathes said. "She needs to trust her swing and she'll be fine."
Mathes believes MICDS is the team favorite after posting an eye-popping 306 at districts.
"You don't know what kind of course they were playing, but that's an impressive score," he said.
Mathes believes Helias has the ability to win a title.
"That's why you go play," he said.
The Helias girls had not seen Rivercut prior to a scheduled practice round Sunday. But the basics don't change, no matter the course.
"Avoid the big number," Mathes said. "If you hit a bad shot, just get in back in play and move on. Don't try to make the hero shots. And avoid the three-putts."