2013 Girls Golf Capsules
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: David Fish, ninth season
Returning letter winners: Three
Top golfers: Betsy Branton (So.)
Outlook: The defending Sunset Region champions have a new look this season after losing their top three golfers to graduation.
Branton, who had an 88 strokes per round average, leads a short list of three returnees, and Fish said she should qualify for the region meet.
“The team will be going through a rebuilding year,” Fish said.
BASIC
Head coach: Michael Viers, first season
Returning letter winners: One
Top golfers: Stephanie Grant (So.), Haleigh Horn (So.)
Outlook: The Wolves have only one returning letter winner, and of the six players on the squad, only two have ever played golf before.
“I have a lot of coaching opportunities,” Viers said. “We are a very young team. Our girls have a great attitude and are working hard to develop their skills.”
BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Jim Stanfill, second season
Returning letter winners: Five
Top golfers: Katie DeJesus (Sr.), Maddy Black (Sr.), Jennifer Le (Fr.), Kara Moore (Jr.)
Outlook: DeJesus returns and could be among the Sunset Region’s best after posting an 81.5 stroke average last year.
“With two veteran seniors, and a number of incoming freshmen, this year promises to culminate as the best season in recent years, maybe since the reign of Inbee Park,” Stanfill said. “With as many as four freshmen and three sophomores, the season will also be one of rebuilding for the future.”
BONANZA
Head coach: Cheryl Speer, 12th season
Returning letter winners: Three
Top golfers: Marchella Marconi (Jr.), Samantha Torres (Fr.)
Outlook: The Bengals are hoping to show plenty of improvement this season.
“As always, the players are putting in their time and working hard to improve,” Speer said. “I am hoping that my top two players will score well enough to qualify for the regional tournament.”
BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Regina Quintero, 18th season
Returning letter winners: Four
Top golfers: Jordyn Syler (Sr.), Mariah Harvey (Sr.), Kelli Hatfield (Jr.), Rachel Jensen (Jr.)
Outlook: Syler placed fourth in the Division I-A state meet last season.
“We would like to see her battle for individual medalist at region and state,” Quintero said. “Mariah Harvey will be vastly improved, and we’re hoping her scores will steadily drop after a summer of working on her game.”
CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Charles Cerrone, ninth season
Returning letter winners: Four
Top golfers: Cara Eells (Sr.), Kianna Arizmendi (So.), Alexis Girardi (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs bring back four letter winners in their quest to qualify for the Sunset Region meet.
“We’re less experienced, but we have good workers,” Cerrone said.
CHEYENNE
Head coach: Teri Hernandez, second season
Returning letter winners: Zero
Outlook: The Desert Shields have only two golfers, and won’t qualify for team competition unless others join the program.
“With only two, we don’t quite make a team, so I’m hoping for some good individual effort,” Hernandez said.
CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Todd Faranda, first season
Returning letter winners: Zero
Outlook: New coach, new team. The Pioneers have four new players and hope to improve as the season continues.
Faranda’s goal is to improve the program numbers, knowledge and play over time.
CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: David Bryant, first season
Returning letter winners: One
Top golfers: Aspen Bryant (Sr.)
Outlook: The Spartans will attempt to build around Bryant, who qualified for the state meet last year and averaged 79 strokes per 18 holes.
CLARK
Head coach: Aaron Dehne, ninth season
Returning letter winners: Three
Top golfers: Grace Kang (So.), Sabrina Ho (Jr.), Karen Chu (Jr.), Cassandra Ho (Fr.)
Outlook: The Chargers bring back three letter winners from a team that placed second in the Sunrise Region meet and third at state.
“We have a good group of returners, and we’re excited about our incoming golfers,” Dehne said. “We hope to build on our third-place finish at state.”
DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Ken Gibson, second season
Returning letter winners: Seven
Top golfers: Allison Weiderman (Jr.), Ashley Malone (So.), Jasmine Moore (Jr.), Kulani Purkey (Sr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks bring back their top four golfers from a squad that qualified for regionals last season. Among those returnees are Weiderman and Malone, both of whom advanced to the state meet.
“Our players have worked hard during the offseason, and our first goal is to compete for a league title,” Gibson said. “It should be an exciting year for our team.”
DURANGO
Head coach: Mike Gomez
Top golfers: Yazmin Bengson (So.)
Outlook: Bengson, who averaged 92 strokes per 18 holes last year, is expected to lead a team that hopes to show improvement.
FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Mark Cheney, 14th season
Returning letter winners: Four
Top golfers: Julia Becker (Jr.), Sarah Paravia (Sr.)
Outlook: The best girls golf team in the state last season won’t be quite as strong this year after losing two Division I signees to graduation in Annie Freman and Brianna Becker.
Julia Becker placed third in the Division I-A state meet last season, and Paravia took sixth, giving Faith Lutheran two more than capable golfers on whom to rely.
“The Crusaders are not as deep as last year,” Cheney said. “They will look to defend their state title.”
FOOTHILL
Head coach: Judy Swanson, 10th season
Returning letter winners: Six
Top golfers: Amy Ruelas (Sr.), Nicole Zawacki (Jr.), Jourden Brown (Jr.), Whitney Gainey (Sr.), Gloria Nam (So.), Shianne Freebain (Sr.), Jasmayn Scruggs (So.)
Outlook: The Falcons return Ruelas, who is capable of scoring in the 70s, and Zawacki and Brown, both of whom averaged in the 80s last season, as they hope to contend in the Sunrise Region.
GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Greg Murphy, ninth season
Returning letter winners: Three
Top golfers: Mercedes Khumnark (Jr.), Haley Merrill (Jr.), Emma Reed (Jr.), Sara DeMarco (So.)
Outlook: Life without Alex Kaui begins for the Gators, who must make up for the loss of one of the best high school golfers in the state’s history. Kaui won three individual state crowns at Green Valley.
The good news for the Gators is they return Khumnark, who would have been the No. 1 golfer on just about any other team in the state last year.
Merrill and Reed were second-team All-Northeast League honorees last year, and could have strong seasons.
“We look to compete for a league championship,” Murphy said.
LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Sam Thomas, first season
Returning letter winners: Four
Top golfers: Maria Samia, Amanda Horrocks, Omaira Mahan, Sonia Silva
Outlook: The Wildcats are hoping to improve throughout the season.
LEGACY
Head coach: Jeremy Thornton, eighth season
Returning letter winners: None
Top golfers: Cindy Doyle (Sr.); Linda Abeyta (Jr.)
Outlook: With no lettermen back, Thornton is starting from scratch this season. Doyle and Abeyta will focus on working to qualify for the regional tournament.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Head coach: Aaron Horita, third season
Returning letter winners: One
Top golfers: Rachel Horita (Sr.), Kristine Horita (Fr.)
Outlook: The Saints are focusing on individual improvement this season.
PALO VERDE
Head coach: Todd Steffenhagen, third season
Top golfers: Alison Ryu (Jr.)
Outlook: Steffenhagen said he hopes the team can finish in the top two in the Sunset Region and qualify for the state tournament.
RANCHO
Head coach: Anthony Diorio, first season
Returning letter winners: Three
Top golfers: Aubrianna Jordan (So.), Keli Tokunaga (Jr.)
Outlook: Diorio inherits a team that brings back three letter winners.
“We’re looking forward to a great season,” Diorio said. “I hope my players can improve every day and compete at their highest individual level.”
SILVERADO
Head coach: Lisa Cipriano, third season
Returning letter winners: Five
Top golfers: Mary Kate Branigan (Sr.), Taylor Sharrock (Sr.), Dezieree Mascarenas (Sr.), Marisa Kirchner (Jr.), Teah Fischer (So.)
Outlook: In Branigan and Sharrock, the Skyhawks have two golfers who have lettered in each of their first three seasons.
They’ll provide leadership for a team hoping to continue to improve.
SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Head coach: Tara Crouch, third season
Returning letter winners: One
Top golfers: Cheyenne Avila (Sr.), Calilee Boyd (Sr.), Morgan Heath (Sr.), Kami Brooks (Sr.)
Outlook: The Miners are hoping to show improvement this season.
TECH
Head coach: Brent Becker, sixth season
Returning letter winners: Four
Top golfers: Meghan Chase (Jr.), Emma Mauss (Sr.), Ana Ceballos (Jr.), Kala McFadden (Jr.), Cynthia Krueger (Fr.)
Outlook: The Roadrunners carry plenty of momentum into the season after making their first trip to state as a team last year.
“All four returners have improved their game, and we look forward to greater competition this year,” Becker said. “We are looking forward to another positive year.”