It took a final-round surge and a steady finish, but Emporia State’s men’s division II disc golf team rallied from behind to capture a national title and cap a strong showing at the College Disc Golf National Championships in Rock Hill on April 11.
Trailing by three strokes entering the final round, the quartet of sophomore Joshua Sterner, junior Isaiah Esquivel and seniors Caden Stucky and Grant Yoder mounted a comeback that defined the championship for ESU.
Starting the day at eight-under, three strokes behind the North Carolina State Wolfpack, the Hornets recorded birdies on four of their first five holes to move into contention. A bogey by NC State on No. 4 resulted in a one-stroke lead for the Hornets.
On the back nine, a bogey by NC State on No. 12 created a tie and both teams played evenly over the next two holes. ESU took the lead with a birdie on No. 15 before the Wolfpack matched with a birdie on No. 17.
On No. 18, the Hornets recorded a par while NC State took a bogey, securing the national championship in a field of 48 teams.
The quartet said that taking the lead after four holes helped them to establish momentum. They told The Bulletin that they wanted to get their strokes back early on to set the pace for the round.
The Hornets called their start a “statement” adding that they wouldn’t “go out without a fight” before settling into even play.
“Back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 gave us the lead, and that’s when we felt in control,” Sterner said, adding they knew #15 was a chance to gain an advantage with the NC State Wolfpack out of position.
When things were tied again late in the series, the focus turned to the team’s conversations heading into the final holes.
“I was trying to stay calm,” Esquivel said, while Yoder echoed that his focus was on composure and the next shot. Sterner added he “kept things light”, engaging in friendly competition with NC State Wolfpack.
Tied on 18, Sterner said he and Stucky were aware of NC State’s position, using the advantage of throwing second to make strategic decisions while both teams were aware of each other’s situation.
The Hornets called the moment that NC State bogeyed “satisfaction,” noting the pressure as NC State Wolfpack still had putts to force a playoff.
“It was just like a lot of pressure waiting to see what they would do,” Sterner said. He added that “it felt like (the Wolfpack was) just moving in slow motion.”
The Hornet men described the championship as a long-anticipated milestone, saying it “felt like we needed to accomplish that” given the program’s place in Emporia, a city closely tied to disc golf, and ESU’s reputation as a “powerhouse for college disc golf”. That was something the four wanted to “solidify”.
The quartet said the realization of their accomplishment set in once they received messages from people back in Emporia, including the former owner of Dynamic Discs, Jeremy Rusco. It also settled as they received their trophies from the tournament director at the course.
Head coach Erin McCabe, said the message entering the final round down three strokes was to “stay patient and trust what got us here,” emphasizing to his team to focus on “one throw at a time.”
“There’s always a moment where you can feel the energy change,” McCabe said, pointing to a stretch where ESU converted key scoring opportunities while the other team began making small mistakes.
He added that once the lead started to tighten on the back nine, confidence grew and the momentum shifted in the Hornets’ favor.
“This group genuinely plays for each other,” said McCabe, who emphasized that his players prioritize team results over individual successes. He added that “they push each other, hold each other accountable, and there’s a real trust between them.”
The Hornet men’s division I team finished second nationally for the second time in four years, while ESU’s women’s team had a top-three finisher for the third consecutive year. McCabe said that top-three finishes across men’s division I, division II and women’s teams show “what we’re building is sustainable.”
McCabe said winning the program’s first national championship title “means everything.”
“This is something we’ve been building toward for four years, and to finally bring home that first team national title is incredibly special,” he said. “It validates the work, the sacrifices, and the belief these players have put into the program.”
