Coming off a fourth-place finish at last year’s Class 2A state tournament, the Resurrection Christian girls golf team believes it can finish even higher this season — maybe even at the top — despite having a small team this spring.
The Cougars finished 19 strokes behind 2A state champion Colorado Academy last season. Seniors Karina Garcia and Avery Stockslager tied for 11th individually as juniors. With those two on the team, it was the third year in a row the Cougars finished in the top 10 at the state tournament.
They were 10th in 2024 and ninth in 2023 while competing in Class 3A. Class 2A was added last season.
Now in her final season with the team, Garcia believes that, despite their overall numbers, this could be their year. She is leaning on their experience, but also the addition of two talented freshmen to go along with a pair of sophomores.
“I’m really excited about this year because I feel like our team’s a lot better,” Garcia said. “We’ve got two really good freshmen this year. I’m just super excited. I think most of us are all really close because it’s such a small team this year. But we’re all very dedicated to what we do, and so I think it’s going to be a good team this year to have.
“I think, individually, we’re all thinking state championship because with the team that we have, I think we could do really well.”
Garcia said she feels like she has improved every year and believes her last season could be her best.
She and Stockslager played much better at state last season than they did their sophomore year, when they both tied for 37th at the 3A event.
“I feel like since freshman year, I have progressed a lot over the four years and I am excited to be going to college for golf because It’s what I love to do,” Garcia said.
Both seniors have signed to play collegiately, Garcia at Colorado Christian and Stockslager at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. Stockslager will return to action soon, as she was on a mission trip to Guatemala at the time of the preview’s publication.
Head coach Rick Meis has been impressed with their leadership and expects them to help the young and new players this season.
“They are three-year lettermen, going to be four-year lettermen,” Meis said of the pair. “They’ve played at state all three years, so they know what to expect and how to prepare. They’re mentoring these younger girls that are coming up, and they are great mentors as far as golf goes and they’re both willing to help the girls.”
In addition to Garcia and Stockslager, this year’s Cougars’ team features sophomores Molly Malone and Courtney Foxworth and has added freshmen Brittyn Goings and Addy Moreno to complete its team of six.
Meis speaks highly of Moreno, who was the top player on the program’s middle school team last year. He is also looking forward to what his seniors, who have three years of varsity experience, do in their final season.
Moreno is excited about joining the varsity team and contributing, too. She has been playing since she was 7, she said.
“I’ve known these girls for a while,” Moreno said. “I’ve played in lots of tournaments with them. I played all throughout middle school so I’m excited to bring a lot and hopefully get us to a state championship this year. I know they are really good and have a strong bond as a team, and I’m really looking forward to creating that bond as well with them and just doing what I love with them.”
Just like the boys season in the fall, there will be no regional tournaments this season to determine who goes to state. That will be determined by iWanamaker rankings. The top 84 golfers in each classification will qualify for the state tournament. As long as a team has three qualifiers, they can compete for the team title.
RCS was voted to finish fourth in 2A this season in the CHSAA’s preseason poll released last week. Meis is optimistic his team has the potential to end up higher than that.
His players share his optimism. whether they are freshmen or seniors.
“I think that we have the potential to win our division because we have two incredible seniors and two really awesome freshmen who are coming up,” Moreno said. “I think if we all pitch in and even if we don’t play our best, but we just have fun and score well, I think we’ll be really good.”
Loveland Red Wolves
Head coach: Corey Albrecht (First season)
Last year: 10th at 4A state
Returning state qualifiers: Belyn Downer (Jr.), Alivia Myers (Jr.)
Others to watch: None provided
Of note: Albrecht takes over for Bill Stephens, who coached the Loveland teams for 15 seasons.
Thompson Valley Eagles
Head coach: Erin Bender (Fifth season)
Last year: Sixth in Longs Peak League
Returning state qualifiers: Dany Alps (Sr.), Tessa Howell (Sr.)
Others to watch: Elin Drake (So.), Izzy Javernick, Cedar Javernick
Coach’s outlook: “We are looking forward to another spring on the course learning the game and building friendships.”
Berthoud Spartans
Head coach: David Hunn (Eighth season)
Last year: Third in Longs Peak League, tied for fifth at 3A state
Returning state qualifiers: Avery Tychsen (Jr.), Madelyn Kuntz (Sr.)
Others to watch: Julia Reed (Jr.), Kaitlyn Guzman (So.), Natalie Gravestock (So.), Avery Graham (Sr.)
Coach’s outlook: “With our upperclassmen leadership, the Berthoud squad looks to compete in every event they enter. Even with losing two State participants due to last year’s graduation, we Spartans always have players ready and eager to take their spot. We look forward to surpassing our preseason ranking of 6th in the state.”
Mountain View Mountain Lions
Head coach: Raquell Castillo (Second season)
Last year: 5th in Longs Peak League
Returning state qualifier: Jaya Hickey (Jr.)
Others to watch: Aimee Gallatin (Sr.), Sadie Gallatin (Sr.), Hope Whitcomb (So.)
Coach’s outlook: “MVHS girls golf is heading into this season with energy, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of momentum. We’re excited to welcome back several returning players whose experience and leadership will help set the tone, while also adding a great group of new athletes who are eager to learn and compete. Our goal this season is to embrace challenges, grow as individuals and teammates, and continue building a program that values resilience, sportsmanship, and a lifelong love for the game.”
