Prep Golf Previews
Cibola Raiders
Top returners: Daniel Griffin, jr.
Key newcomers: Kody Fiser, fresh.; Michael Reyes, fresh.; Luke Domby, fresh.; Ebi Ramirez, fresh.
Boys coach Cam Cong's comments: “We're very young. Our best player will be a freshman, Kody Fiser. We're in the learning process.”
The lowdown: Fiser comes in as the No. 1, averaging about a 41. Griffin was the No. 4 player last year, averaging about a 55, but will need to improve that score — something Cong said he expects to happen. Ramirez is shooting around a 50 as well. Cong said he thinks the Raiders can be competitive with city champ Gila Ridge, which has also lost a lot.
— Edward Carifio
Kofa Kings
Top returners: Boys — Alejandro Martinez, soph.; Daniel McDonald, soph.; Esteban Escobedo, sr. Girls — Onammi Garcia, sr.; Misty Linares, sr.; Yesenia Meadows, sr.; Gloria Cortez, sr.
Key newcomers: Boys — Cameron Sharp, fresh. Girls — None.
Boys coach Roger Ramirez's comments: “The positive about being able to post scores up there is it just creates competition. Everybody wants to be better than the next guy, which eventually makes the team better.”
Girls coach Emma Morrison's comments: “I just have four girls; it's a little different from softball. I would have gotten three or four of my softball players but they were playing volleyball. They are all playing volleyball. That would have been awesome if I found some of them to play.”
The lowdown: Morrison, who coaches softball for the Kings in the spring, takes over the girls golf program as well. She only has four girls on her roster, but all four have experience. Garcia, however, is the only one who had experience prior to last year. Morrison said she's pleased with the improvement Linares has shown and thinks the team can “hang in there” among the city schools. Ramirez has more numbers this year and will be able to send five golfers out for the first time in three years. He said his team can be at least in the top two in the city, especially if his three young golfers continue to improve.
— Edward Carifio
San Luis Sidewinders
Top returners: Boys — Jorge Duarte, jr.; Antonio Rosales, sr.; Alexander Bazua, soph.; Jorge Pizano, sr. Girls — Xenia Diaz, sr.; Daniela Marquez, sr.
Key newcomers: Boys — Joaquin Duarte, fresh. Girls — Edna Jurrolla, sr.; Sarah Guzman, sr.
Boys coach Cesar Castillo's comments: “For four of the guys they got one year under their belt. As far as being competitive, they understand the rules of the game and aren't as nervous or whatever. They are free to have more fun with the game than anything else.
Girls coach Rob Jankowski's comments: “We're just expecting them to get better and better each day and work on the little things.”
The lowdown: Both programs enter their second year, with Jankowski taking over for Jay Pierson, who played a large part in getting both teams started. Marquez should be the No. 1, Jankowski said, and has a bit of experience — something that's lacking. Jurrolla and Guzman haven't picked up a club before, and Diaz hadn't before last season. Castillo said he expects not to have a standout, but rather place five golfers at all about 5- or 6-over.
— Edward Carifio
Gila Ridge Hawks
Top returners: Boys — Dillon Chavez, sr. Girls — Tayler McKenna, sr.; Breanan Brown, sr.; Wynne Farley, jr.
Key newcomers: Boys — Benjamin Jackson, soph.; Jacob Boughton, jr. Girls — Stevi Zozaya, sr.; Veronica Abbott, fresh.
Boys coach David Schultz's comments: “Your goals change when you have so many newcomers that haven't really played golf before. I just want them to learn the rules, learn from the other kids and just have fun with it. We want to beat everyone, obviously, but we want the kids to have fun. Those are my ultimate goals as a coach.”
Girls coach Abby Wilson's comments: “The returners are all good leaders and have been practicing all summer. I'm excited to see what we have this year.”
The lowdown: The boys and girls both lost a lot and are relying on a lot of inexperienced players to pick up the slack. On the boys side, only Chavez has varsity experience. Schultz said that last year, the Hawks could have fielded two teams that would have been best in the city but isn't sure that a repeat is in the cards for this season. He said the team isn't as top-heavy as it was in the past. The girls don't exactly have depth this year — just their top five — but Wilson said she expects the team should compete with Cibola again for the city crown.
— Edward Carifio
Yuma High Criminals
Top returners: Boys — Sage Miller, jr.; Rajinder Singh, soph.; Ryan Herzog, soph. Girls — Linda Ontiveros, sr.; Shana Stewart, soph.; Kitiza Rodriguez, soph.; Tami Larson, soph.
Key newcomers: Boys — Saul Marquez, soph.; Luis Ramirez, fresh. Girls — Ynessa Dominguez, soph.; Sedona Miller, fresh.
Boys coach Nate Jurgens' comments: “As a first-year golf coach I'm kind of excited to be able to field a team and have three solid returners.”
Girls coach Liz Huyck's comments: “I'm excited to have numbers. It's really a first for me at Yuma High. I hope that competitiveness takes things up a notch in practice, knowing that nothing is a given until you shoot scores consistently.”
The lowdown: Huyck said it was too soon to tell if her team could compete with the rebuilding Raiders and Hawks for a title. She said she expects Ontiveros to provide ample leadership. Dominguez and Miller will compete for the fifth spot on the team. The boys are optimistic as well, fielding a full team for the first time in a long time. Jurgens said he expects Miller and Herzog to battle it out to see who is the No. 1 golfer on the team.
— Edward Carifio
