ABERDEEN, SD (HubCityRadio.com) – Olivia Braun is a special talent & her play speaks for itself & her trophy case will now need to be expanded.

The soon-to-be Jackrabbit secured her second AA state championship crown on Tuesday at Cattail Crossing in Watertown, after trailing by a pair of strokes behind up and comer, Ari Jacobs of O’Gorman.

There’s a cliche in sports, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” but if your start is too slow, sometimes it can be ‘too little, too late.’ Braun started day two off with a pair of birdies, she says that was instrumental in starting the day off on the right foot.

Leading by two strokes going into the 18th hole, Braun had to balance the emotion of it being the last hole of the tournament, to the mental focus & emotion of trying to finish off as the medalist.

To be a good team, you have to be a good teammate. Emma Dohrer & Kyley Wirebaugh both finished in the top four, en route to the team winning the title. Braun says they played tremendously, but let’s not leave anybody out.

The two-putt goes in on hole 18, the champion is crowned, the repeat is complete; Braun describes the moment her high school playing career came to an end.

Winning A state title is no small feat, but doing it again a year later proves it wasn’t just a one-year wonder. Braun was asked: which is more difficult, ‘winning the first title, or defending that crown?’

Now that her time as an Aberdeen Central Golden Eagle has come to a close, it’s safe to say she’s earned her wings as an individual & as a teammate.

“To (Coach) Zim & my team, I couldn’t ask for better teammates.”

• • • • • • • • • • David Tukesbrey; Hub City Radio Sports.