2014 Girls Golf Capsules

ARBOR VIEW

Head coach: David Fish, 10th season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Betsy Branton (Jr.)

Outlook: Branton was a state qualifier last year and was the medalist in all five Northwest League matches.

“The team only returns Betsy with four new young players,” Fish said. “This will be a rebuilding year for the program.”

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BASIC

Head coach: Michael Viers, second season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Stephanie Grant (Jr.)

Outlook: Grant earned second-team All-Southeast League honors last year.

“We are an inexperienced, but very enthusiastic team,” Viers said. “We will count on Stephanie to set the example with her work ethic and leadership ability as our team continues to develop.

“The team has set goals and will work hard to achieve them.”

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BISHOP GORMAN

Head coach: Jim Stanfill, third season

Returning letter winners: Four

Top athletes: Hunter Pate (Fr.), Jennifer Le (So.), Megan Orgad (So.), Sarah James (Jr.)

Outlook: The Gaels bring back four letter winners from a team that finished third in the state meet.

Among the returnees are a pair of first-team All-Sunset Region honorees in Le and Orgad.

“As a team, we have steadily improved performance the past three seasons,” Stanfill said. “This year, with a strong returning roster and the arrival of freshman Hunter Pate, our team is optimistic and focused on continuing its positive, forward momentum.”

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BONANZA

Head coach: Cheryl Speer, 12th season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Rebecca Oertel (Fr.), Marchella Marconi (Sr.), Samantha Torres (So.)

Outlook: The Bengals are hoping to show improvement this season.

“I am looking forward to generating better team scores this season,” Speer said. “I hope that we can improve enough to qualify for the regional tournament as a team.”

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BOULDER CITY

Head coach: Andy Schaper, first season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Kelli Hatfield (Sr.), Lauryn Norris (So.), Lani Potter (Fr.)

Outlook: Schaper takes over a team with only two returnees.

“It is our goal to improve in each match by eliminating key mistakes and playing smart,” Schaper said. “The girls look forward to a fun season with the hope of playing well enough to make it to the state tournament.”

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CANYON SPRINGS

Head coach: Todd Faranda, second season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Jessica Davis (Jr.)

Outlook: Davis is the lone returnee for the Pioneers and will be counted on to lead the team.

“Losing three golfers from last season, this will be a rebuilding year with young and inexperienced golfers,” Faranda said.

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CENTENNIAL

Head coach: Charles Cerrone, 10th season

Returning letter winners: Four

Top athletes: Kianna Arizmendi (Jr.), Hayley England (Jr.), Jennifer Cerrone (Jr.), Alexis Girardi (Sr.), Nicole August (So.), Adriana Bartlett (Jr.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs welcome back four letter winners, including Arizmendi, who was a state qualifier last year.

“We should be competitive and hope to qualify as a team for regionals,” Cerrone said.

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CHAPARRAL

Head coach: Julie Bellavia, first season

Returning letter winners: Zero

Top athletes: Jaqueline Arguelles-Perez (Fr.), Edonnya Alvarez (Jr.)

Outlook: The Cowboys start from scratch with two first-year golfers.

“We look forward to the upcoming golf season,” Bellavia said. “We are excited to have two new golfers on the course and hope to keep improving from week to week.”

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CHEYENNE

Head coach: Teri Hernandez, third season

Returning letter winners: One

Outlook: The Desert Shields are focused on individual improvement this season.

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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

Head coach: David Fields, second season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Rachel Larsen (Jr.)

Outlook: Larsen, who played in last year’s state tournament, is the team’s lone reutrning letter winner.

“We are also looking for positive contributions from Tomi Luke,” Fields said.

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CLARK

Head coach: Aaron Dehne, 10th season

Top athletes: Sabrina Ho (Sr.), Karen Chu (Sr.), Grace Kang (Jr.), Cassandra Ho (So.), Yulim Lee (Sr.)

Outlook: Clark returns its top five golfers from last year. Sabrina Ho, Kang and Cassandra Ho each averaged 85 or better per 18 holes last season.

“With the return of my top five golfers from last season, I believe our team will be very competitive,” Dehne said. “Our main goal is to improve our team scores and return to state.”

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CORONADO

Head coach: Joe Sawaia, 14th season

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Natalie Yamamoto (Sr.), Bella Martinez (Sr.), Ashley Lung (So.), Sammy Penor (Fr.), Gabby Denunzio (Fr.)

Outlook: Yamamoto placed fifth in last year’s state meet and leads a crop of five returning letter winners for the Cougars.

“We look to defend our Sunrise Region title and be a top contender at state,” Sawaia said.

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DESERT OASIS

Head coach: Ken Gibson, third season

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Ashley Malone (Jr.), Jasmine Moore (Sr.)

Outlook: Malone (tied for seventh) and Moore (tied for 15th) both finished in the top 15 of last year’s state meet and lead a list of five returnees.

“Our team is not as deep as we have been, but we will give a great effort every round,” said Gibson, who has no new players this year. “We are hoping to qualify for the region tourney as a team.

“Ashley Malone and Jasmine Moore both did quite well at the state championships last year, and we expect great years from both of them.”

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DESERT PINES

Head coach: David Anderson, first season

Outlook: Anderson is hoping to start to build a team.

“We’re starting from ground zero,” he said. “By year’s end, we hope to have some equipment, uniforms and players.”

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DURANGO

Head coach: Mike Gomez

Top athletes: Yazmin Bengson (Jr.), Jasmin Marayonk (So.)

Outlook: Bengson is a two-time Sunset Region meet qualifier.

Gomez said the team’s goal is for both Bengson and Marayonk to qualify for the region meet.

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ELDORADO

Head coach: Jim Fitch, 36th season

Returning letter winners: Zero

Outlook: The Sundevils are hoping to improve throughout the year.

“We have new players for this year,” Fitch said. “We’re at ground zero.”

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FAITH LUTHERAN

Head coach: Mark Cheney, 15th season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Julia Becker (Sr.), Sydney Smith (Fr.)

Outlook: A powerhouse and the Division I-A state champion each of the last two years, Faith Lutheran will look a bit different after the loss of four seniors to graduation.

Becker, the individual state champion, is the lone returning letter winner.

“Julia Becker will provide leadership to a team full of newcomers,” Cheney said. “I expect us to show continual improvement through the season.”

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FOOTHILL

Head coach: Richard Salemme, first season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Jourden Brown (Sr.), Katie Schichenmayer (Fr.), Gloria Nam (Jr.), Jasmyn Scruggs (Jr.), Nicole Zawacki (Sr.)

Outlook: Salemme takes over a squad that has three retuning letter winners.

“We have a few returning veterans who will be very competitive and a freshman who might surprise a few people,” Salemme said. “The goal for our team this year is to be competitive and remember the first rule of golf … have fun.”

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GREEN VALLEY

Head coach: Greg Murphy, 10th season

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Mercedes Khumnark (Sr.), Haley Merrill (Jr.), Katherine Kares (So.)

Outlook: Khumnark, who placed third in last year’s state meet, could compete for the state title this season and leads a list of five returnees.

Kares is a transfer from Omaha, Nebraska.

“We look to compete for a division championship,” Murphy said. “Mercedes Khumnark is one of the top golfers in the state. Katherine Kares has been a pleasant move-in surprise.”

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MOJAVE

Head coach: Zach Hartley, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Cosette Watson (Sr.), Jessica Montufar (Sr.), Alisha Clark (Sr.)

Outlook: The Rattlers’ three returnees all played golf for the first time last season. With that season under their belt, the Rattlers could be improved this year.

“Our program is still building in numbers and experience,” Hartley said. “As a result, our goals are to teach our girls the basics of the game, show them the community that surrounds golf, and help them learn the integrity that sets golf apart from other sports and activities.”

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MOUNTAIN VIEW

Head coach: Aaron Horita, fourth season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Kristine Horita (So.)

Outlook: The Saints are focused on individual improvement.

“We’re looking to improve our short game and move up in individual standings at state,” Aaron Horita said.

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PAHRUMP VALLEY

Head coach: Bob Hopkins, first season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Natalie Hunn (Jr.), Jayde Woodworth (Sr.)

Outlook: The long-time boys coach at Pahrump, Hopkins takes over a girls program that returns six letter winners, but is comprised mainly of juniors and sophomores.

“We’re young with only two seniors,” Hopkins said.

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PALO VERDE

Head coach: Todd Steffenhagen, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Madison Hendricks (So.), Morgan Zimmerman (Sr.)

Outlook: The Panthers welcome back five letter winners and hope to be among the top teams in the Sunset Region.

“We have lots of returning experience,” Steffenhagen said. “If the season averages improve, we should have a chance to make it to state.”

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SHADOW RIDGE

Head coach: Steven Huesch, third season

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Allison Weiderman (Sr.), Katie Thomas (Jr.)

Outlook: The Mustangs are hoping to show improvement this year.

“We are looking to make it to regionals as a team this year with five returning players,” Huesch said. “Our top two players have a good shot at making it to state.”

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SILVERADO

Head coach: Lisa Cipriano, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Marisa Kirchner (Sr.), Teah Fisher (Jr.)

Outlook: Individual improvement is a focus for the Skyhawks.

“We have four girls, and we are hoping to go to state as individuals,” Cipriano said.

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TECH

Head coach: Kirk Grimm, first season

Returning letter winners: Four

Top athletes: Meghan Chase (Sr.), Anastasia Ceballos (Sr.), Kala McFadden (Sr.)