PREP GIRLS GOLF 2024 SEASON PREVIEW CAPSULES
Class 5A
Boulder Panthers Coach: Dustin Fonseca
Last year’s result: Did not qualify for the 5A state tournament.
Testing 1-2-3: Fonseca takes over the program, saying he hopes to start building the Panthers into a state contender.
The Tea: This spring, the Panthers are led by senior Y’jazzmin Christopher, junior Mekdes Bass and sophomore Alexis Faust. “These players have been able to show me thus far that they are dedicated and are very good leaders,” Fonseca said.
Fairview Knights Coach: John Zerwin
Last year’s result: Finished sixth in the FRL, fifth at regionals and 16th at the 5A state tournament.
Testing 1-2-3: Senior Ava Hickey is back after she finished sixth in the FRL individual standings and tied for 15th at the state tournament last year.
The Tea: Hickey was firstteam all-frl, shooting under 80 in three of her five scored league tournaments. She then had the best state finish among local 5A golfers last spring. Behind her for the Knights in 2024, seniors Charlotte and Rose Maggio and freshman Eme Hickey round out their top team.
Legacy Lightning Coach: Bobby Ortega
Last year’s result: Amelia Barr and Ayla Milan qualified for the state tournament
Testing 1-2-3: Milan, who tied for 34th at the state tournament with 178 strokes, looks to go 4-for-4 in state qualifications in her final season.
The Tea: The Lightning barely missed out on qualifying as a team last year, and will look to Milan, Barr, junior Jessica Chour and junior Anjali Hagner to light the path there this year.
Monarch Coyotes Coach: Geoff Findley
Last year’s result: Fourth in the Front Range League, two state qualifiers
Testing 1-2-3: Junior Grasyn Trobaugh will take the lead for the Coyotes this year as she hopes to qualify for state.
The Tea: After losing key players to graduation, the Coyotes will look to “new talent to rise to the top,” Findley said. The young, inexperienced team hopes to be competitive in its final season with the FRL.
Class 4A
Broomfield Eagles Coach: Tony Ferraro
Last year’s result: Took fourth at its regional and qualified two golfers to the state tournament.
Testing 1-2-3: Junior Lexie Chenoweth returns after qualifying for the 4A state tournament as a sophomore. She finished tied for 65th alongside teammate Ashley Fiala, who graduated.
The Tea: Ferraro, in his 10th year in charge, believes he has a strong junior class of golfers ready to make noise in 4A. Mia Huerta made the state tournament as a freshman, Chenoweth last year, and Olivia Kim and Ainsley East round out a top group hoping to qualify as a full team to state this spring.
Centaurus Warriors Coach: Kevin Ratzlaff
Last year’s result: Qualified one golfer to the state tournament.
Testing 1-2-3: The Warriors graduated Julia Love, who was the team’s lone state qualifier a year ago, finishing tied for 36th in 4A.
The Tea: Senior Danielle Demartin is entering her third season on roster, and Ratzlaff believes she has a good shot at qualifying for the state tournament in 2024. Elyse Curtin, a junior, has shown promise, her coach said, “and we hope (she) can become next in line her senior year to make the state tournament.”
Erie Tigers
Coach: Brandon Bird
Last year’s result: Won the FRL, its regional and its second straight state title in 4A.
Testing 1-2-3: Senior Logan Hale and junior Hadley Ashton, the last two individual 4A state champs, return for the Tigers, who are looking to three-peat.
The Tea: Hale won the 4A title last season and went on to qualify for the Colorado Women’s Open. Ashton won the 20224A title, last year’s FRL individual championship and is committed to the University of Wisconsin. Senior Hollyn Drennen and junior Taylor Hale round out a top team looking to win a third straight 4A championship.
Chris Desantis
Finished fourth in the Longs Peak League and 14th at the 4A state tournament.
Testing 1-2-3: Senior Zoe Martinez is back, Frederick’s two-time state qualifier and all-conference golfer. She finished 76th in 4A last spring.
The Tea: Seniors Makayla Miller and Martinez both have state tournament experience, with Miller qualifying in 2022and Martinez both of the past two seasons. Miller, a commit to Hastings College, was an all-conference player and state alternate last spring.
Holy Family Tigers Coach: Heikke Nielsen
Last year’s result: Finished fifth at the 4A state tournament.
Testing 1-2-3: Nielsen says his team has strong depth following its fourth-place state finish in 2023. He said five of his players can shoot 85or better.
The Tea: The Tigers bring back three of their 2023 state qualifiers in junior twins Finley and Fiona Holmes and sophomore Steffi Heitz. All finished inside the top 35. They also welcome touted freshmen in Danikka Nielsen, who is the coach’s daughter, and Acadia Curtis.
Longmont Trojans Coach: Matt Engelking
Last year’s result: No state qualifiers
Testing 1-2-3: Junior Annika Van Dorn fell one stroke short of qualifying for the state tournament last year, but will look to avenge that snub this season.
The Tea: Engelking dubbed this as a year of learning with four freshmen entering the program. He’ll look to Van Dorn and junior Kaitlyn Murphy for leadership.
Mead Mavericks Coach: Mary Durkin
Last year’s result: No state qualifiers
Testing 1-2-3: Senior
Ashlee Van Dyke has enjoyed great improvement since her freshman season and hopes to build on last year’s best personal score.
The Tea: The Mavericks endured a rebuild in 2023 after losing seven seniors from the year before. They hope to make a comeback this season with six girls returning and strong rookies joining them.
Niwot Cougars
Coach: Ed Weaver
Last year’s result: Finished third in the Longs Peak League; qualified three for the state tournament
Testing 1-2-3: Mina O’dell, the Cougars’ only senior, will vie for her fourth state qualification this year.
The Tea: The Cougars will be comprised by a mix of veteran talent and newcomers, all of which Weaver believes could lead to a team state qualification.
Silver Creek Raptors Coach: Bill Kipp
Last year’s result: Brie Hickman and Anna Davidson qualified for the state tournament
Testing 1-2-3: Kipp expects Hickman to rise to the top of league play as she vies for her third straight state tournament bid.
The Tea: Kipp anticipates that the Raptors will see multiple state qualifiers again this season, and looks to Hickman, Davidson, Audrey Cooper and Izzy Magliocca to lead the way.
Skyline Falcons
Coach: Alie Grubbs
Last year’s result: No state qualifiers
Testing 1-2-3: Junior Breanne Baker has displayed immense growth since her freshman season when she first began playing the sport.
The Tea: Grubbs hailed her athletes as “solid and technical players,” but believes their sense of camaraderie and respect for each other sets them apart from other teams.
Jefferson Academy Jaguars
Coach: Steven Severance
Last year’s result: Thensenior Samantha Duncan placed 19th in the state tournament with 190 strokes.
Testing 1-2-3: Severance hailed freshman Paige Danforth as “a talented and skilled player who only needs to work on course management for a fully unlocked game.”
The Tea: Severance believes the team can make great strides as “true forces in the game,” as senior Freja Hampton and freshman Sarah Otterstetter round out the top three behind Danforth.
Peak to Peak Pumas Coach: Colby Cobb
Last year’s result: Regional champions, team runner-up at the state tournament
Testing 1-2-3: Cobb will look to junior Shriya Sharma to step into a leadership role after the departure of Noelle Thompson, who finished state runner-up in the individual competition last year.
The Tea: The Pumas hope to build on last year’s strong showing at state, and will lean on Sharma, senior Kaylee Craig and senior Ava Sommer to get them there.
Prospect Ridge Academy Miners
Coach: Anna Stavola
Last year’s result: Regional champions, fourth place at the state tournament
Testing 1-2-3: Senior Leyni Stavola, a four sport athlete in golf, swimming, diving and volleyball, committed to Black Hills State University after leading the Miners with three straight state qualifications and team state runner-up honors at the state tournament in 2022.
The Tea: The Miners will take on a similar look to last season with Leyni Stavola, senior Kate Dinges, junior Hope Torres and sophomore Ye Yoon Choi rounding out their top four, all of which played in the state tournament last season.