2018 Boys Golf Capsule Previews
(as submitted by coaches)
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Ron Cyrankowski, second season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Hazen Newman (Jr.), Cameron Gambini (Sr.), Preston Harris (So.)
Outlook: There aren’t many one-two punches as strong as Newman and Gambini.
A first-team all-state honoree, Newman finished third in last year’s Class 4A state tournament. Gambini, who finished fifth in the Sunset Region tournament, was a second-team all-state honoree.
“It’s a young team with a lot of potential,” Cyrankowski said. “Our goal is to qualify for region as a team.”
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BASIC
Head coach: Brian Coy, first season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top players: Flynn Hunter (So.), Kobi Paylor (So.), Miles Lipschultz (So.), Preston Roundy (Sr.)
Outlook: The numbers are a bit misleading for the Wolves, who have six returning lettermen, but remain young.
Three of the six are sophomores and could be among the team’s top players again this season.
Hunter (91.8 stroke average), Paylor (92.3) and Lipschultz (98.7) all return, and Roundy (99.8) brings valuable leadership.
“Last year we had three freshmen that did an outstanding job for us, and they all have improved tremendously since the conclusion of last season,” Coy said. “In this group, we have a great balance of senior athletes that have mentored our younger athletes, and we expect to be playing in the regional tournament this year.”
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BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Jim Stanfill, sixth season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top players: Mitchell Abbott (Sr.), Skyler Ngo (So.), Aarjav Patel (Fr.)
Outlook: Abbott placed sixth in last year’s Class 4A state tournament and is among six returning lettermen for the Gaels, who are hoping to qualify for state as a team for the first time since 2014.
“With a healthy mix of old and new players, this will be the year the team returns to the state championship,” Stanfill said.
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BONANZA
Head coach: Cheryl Speer, sixth season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Baylee Osborne (So.), Frank Hawley (Jr.), Julian Fagnant (Fr.), Cameron Jennings (Fr.)
Outlook: The Bengals return two lettermen and welcome in two newcomers.
“I have four players so at least we will score as a team,” Speer said. “I have two freshmen so time will tell as to how well they will score on the course.”
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BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Andy Schaper, second season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Jackson Wright (Sr.), Andrew Kavecevich (Sr.), Kevin Phelps (Jr.), Chase Hamel (Jr.), Dustin Landerman (So.)
Outlook: The Eagles bring back five lettermen from a squad that finished second in last year’s Class 3A state tournament.
Wright, a first-team All-Southern Region honoree, finished ninth at state. Phelps was a first-team All-Sunrise League pick, and Landerman earned second-team all-league honors.
“Following a runner-up finish at the 2017 state tournament, it is our goal to play solid throughout the season and have another strong outing at the 2018 state tournament,” Schaper said.
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CALVARY CHAPEL
Head coach: Ian Gough, first season
Returning lettermen: First-year team
Outlook: The Lions are beginning from scratch this season and hope to show improvement each time out.
“This is a starter year for the program,” Gough said.
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CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Noah Hartsock, first season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Cole Thompson (So.), Tyler Prendez (Sr.), Ethan Winspear (Sr.)
Outlook: Hartsock takes over a squad that hopes to make a run at qualifying for the postseason.
“It should be an exciting year for Centennial golf,” Hartsock said. “With three returning players and a good young crew, Centennial should be competitive and exciting to watch on the course this year.”
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CHAPARRAL
Head coach: Chris Brody, fourth season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Josue Marin, Aydin Amberg
Outlook: The Cowboys bring back only two lettermen and hope some early growing pains quickly lead to solid results.
“We have a very young team this season,” Brody said. “Chaparral has six freshmen on the roster so we are looking to build over the next couple years to compete in the future.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: David Fields, fifth season
Returning lettermen: One
Outlook: The Spartans will be learning on the fly this season as only one letterman returns.
“I will have an all new team this season and will hope to be competitive in our division,” Fields said.
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CORONADO
Head coach: Joe Sawaia, 17th season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Dylan Fritz (Jr.), Ben Sawaii (So.), Brett Sodetz (So.), Joey Dotta (Jr.)
Outlook: After finishing third in last year’s state tournament, the Cougars bring back a talented group of five lettermen, four of whom had averages better than 80 per 18 holes last year.
Fritz (75.8 stroke average) was a first-team all-state selection last year. Ben Sawaia (75.9) earned second-team all-state honors, and Sodetz (76.8) joined them on the All-Sunrise Region first team. Dotta (79) earned second-team all-region honors.
“We look to repeat as region champions and seriously compete for a state championship,” Joe Sawaia said.
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Kendel Chrysler, third season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Angel Greer (Jr.)
Outlook: The Dragons return only two lettermen this year.
Greer was a state tournament qualifier last year.
“Del Sol has new players out that are looking forward to improving,” Chrysler said. “Angel Greer looks to repeat his state qualification from last year.”
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Kelly Perryman, 10th season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Devin Heiman (Sr.), Zachary Blake (Jr.), Garret Keiffer (So.), Eric Miller (Jr.)
Outlook: Heiman was a first-team All-Southwest League honoree last year.
He’s one of three returning lettermen on a team that otherwise is quite young.
“We are looking to continue building with five freshmen entering the program,” Perryman said.
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DURANGO
Head coach: John Mausbach, ninth season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Tyler Pham (So.), Tristan Toth (So.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers will be young with only two returning lettermen, but hope to show improvement throughout the season.
“Our goal is to qualify as a team and individuals for the region and state tournaments,” Mausbach said.
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FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Mark Cheney, seventh season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Greg Price (Sr.), Aidan Goldstein (Fr.)
Outlook: Graduation was not kind to the Crusaders, who lost three of their top four players from last season.
Cheney expects Price and Goldstein to be among the leaders on a team that will try to make its sixth straight state tournament appearance.
“If we can commit to the process of improvement, I expect to see considerable progress over the course of the season,” Cheney said.
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FOOTHILL
Head coach: Paul DeSantis, ninth season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top players: Noah MacFawn (Jr.), Hunter Esparza (Fr.), Justin Delaney (Sr.).
Outlook: MacFawn was a first-team All-Sunrise Region selection last year and leads a group of six returnees for what should be a talented Falcon squad.
“Foothill will continue to work toward qualifying for the region and state tournaments,” DeSantis said.
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Greg Murphy, 14th season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Karter Kares (So.), Thomas Anderson (Fr.)
Outlook: The Gators lack the varsity experience of some of their Sunrise Region counterparts with only three returning lettermen, but hope to contend this season.
“We look to compete and qualify for the region championship,” Murphy said.
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Art Plunkett, eighth season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Weston Boyer (Sr.), Danny Zacias (Jr.), Nic Jensen (Fr.)
Outlook: The Wildcats bring back five lettermen, including Boyer, who was a first-team All-Northeast League honoree last year.
“We should have a good chance to compete for the Northeast crown with the addition of freshman Nic Jensen,” Plunkett said.
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LEGACY
Head coach: Jeremy Thornton, 12th season
Returning lettermen: Zero
Top players: Garrison Sharpe (Sr.), Arron-Michael Pendleton (Jr.)
Outlook: The Longhorns will be learning on the job this season.
“We have no returning letter winners, and only two that have much experience, so we’re hoping to build for the future and improve as the year goes on,” Thornton said.
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LIBERTY
Head coach: Kih Gourrier, sixth season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Justin Opinsky (So.), Jackson Parrish (Fr.)
Outlook: Opinsky qualified for the Class 4A state tournament last year and is one of three returning lettermen for the Patriots, who hope to improve each time out.
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MOJAVE
Head coach: Jerry Raso, second season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Marcus Mullins (Sr.), Sahir Sanchez (Jr.)
Outlook: Mullins finished 10th in last year’s Class 3A state tournament and returns alongside Sanchez.
“It would be great for Marcus to return to the state championship and win it,” Raso said. “Last year we had two players. This year we are projecting a full roster.”
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PAHRUMP VALLEY
Head coach: Bob Hopkins, 17th season
Returning lettermen: Four
Top players: Mike McDougal (Sr.), Koby Lindberg (So.), Craig Moore (Sr.), Trevyn Wombaker (Jr.)
Outlook: Coming off a fifth-place finish in last year’s Class 3A state tournament, the Trojans bring back four lettermen, but must make up for the loss of state tournament runner-up Austen Ancell to graduation.
McDougal, Lindberg and Moore all competed in the state tournament last year.
“We are young, but we hope to repeat as Sunset League champions and get better each match,” Hopkins said.
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Todd Steffenhagen, seventh season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Michael Salerno (So.), Drew Warnick (Jr.)
Outlook: The bar has been set quite high for the two-time defending state champions, but many of those responsible for setting it have graduated.
Only two lettermen return for Palo Verde. Salerno was a second-team All-Southern Nevada honoree last year, and will be among the leaders on the team.
“With the majority of last year’s state championship team lost to graduation, the Panthers will look to rebuild with lots of new faces,” Steffenhagen said.
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RANCHO
Head coach: Anthony DiOrio, fifth season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Dillon Cassell (So.), Paul Nawrocki (So.), Vada Williams (So.)
Outlook: Rancho should be in position this year to do something it hasn’t done in quite some time — post a team score on a consistent basis.
The Rams have struggled with numbers in recent years, but should continue to grow and build this season. Cassell, one of five returning lettermen, was a first-team All-Northeast League honoree last year.
“This is the first year since I have been coaching at Rancho that we have enough golfers to compete as a team,” DiOrio said. “We have a very young but talented team this year, and I am looking forward to see how well they do.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Steven Huesch, ninth season
Returning lettermen: Six
Top players: Bryce Huesch (Sr.), Ryan Dompier (Sr.), Malachi Banks (So.), William Parlin (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs bring back six lettermen and hope to be among the Sunset Region’s top teams.
“We are trying to qualify for regionals as a team this year,” Steven Huesch said.
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SIERRA VISTA
Head coach: Vicki Mangione, 10th season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Harrison Stanley (So.), David Hwang (Jr.), Tae Hwan Jang (So.)
Outlook: The Mountain Lions bring back three lettermen and are encouraged by some strong newcomers.
“We are working hard to get back to regionals as a team not just with individuals,” Mangione said.
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Brian Backman, first season
Returning lettermen: Zero
Top players: Adonis LeBlue (Jr.), Kyle Moser (Sr.)
Outlook: A new coach, a new roster, but high hopes for the future of the Spring Valley program.
Backman takes over a squad that has struggled just to fill spots in recent years.
“I am looking to build on a program that has not fielded a full team in several years, but it will take some time,” Backman said. “I believe that Adonis and Kyle will qualify for regions and Adonis will have a good chance at qualifying for state.
“I have one other senior (Kenny Do) and three freshmen with little to no experience.”
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TECH
Head coach: David Shelton, sixth season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Jordan Haywood (So.), Hayden Gomel (So.), Daniel McDonald (So.)
Outlook: The Roadrunners return three lettermen, all sophomores.
“The team is very young this year,” Shelton said. “We have three returning 10th graders who will hopefully lead the team with their experience from last year and are complimented by three freshmen that should push the sophmores to improve even more.
“The most important thing for these young kids this year is to improve every match and gain valuable experience which will lead to lower scores.”
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VALLEY
Head coach: Mike English, first season
Returning lettermen: Three
Top players: Franz Agustin (Sr.), Chris Kuhlemeier (Sr.), Michael Frias (Sr.)
Outlook: English takes over a team that brings back three lettermen.
“Franz Agustin is poised and ready to lead our team in scoring and cap off his senior season by at least making it into the regional tournament,” English said.
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VIRGIN VALLEY
Head coach: Doug Waite, first season
Returning lettermen: Two
Top players: Nathan Hulet (Sr.), Jeron Dalton (Jr.), Thomas Kay (Sr.)
Outlook: Waite takes over a squad that brings back only two lettermen, but has high hopes for the season.
“We hope to qualify as a team and go to state,” Waite said.
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WESTERN
Head coach: Susanne Bohen, fifth season
Returning lettermen: Five
Top players: Jared Smith (Jr.), Patrick Tasanaroungrong (Jr.)
Outlook: Smith finished fifth in last year’s Class 3A state tournament. He leads a group of five returning lettermen for the Warriors.
“We have high expectations for Jared Smith this season,” Bohen said. “He has shaved a few strokes off his score and should place in the top three in the state tournament.”