Arapahoe’s Hannah Wood. (Courtesy photo)
Since capturing its first state championship back in 2010, Arapahoe’s girls golf team has discovered repeating the feat is far from a walk in the park.
The Warriors have finished second to Centennial League rival Cherry Creek in the Class 5A team standings at each of the previous three state meets. The going has been just as challenging for current Arapahoe senior Hannah Wood, who took third in 2012 and 2013.
So what will happen when the 2014 state field tees off May 19 at Raccoon Creek Golf Club in Littleton? That is anybody’s guess, but Wood and the Warriors hope to find themselves standing atop the mountain when it’s all said and done.
“It’s always nerve-wracking. State is the one that means the most … everything kind of builds up toward the end,” Wood said. “You’re physically and mentally drained. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s hard to overcome that.
“I do think we have a shot at winning state this year. We had a shot the last three years. … If we can just pull through mentally I think we’ll be OK.”
If the final 2013 standings at Tiara Rado are any indication, the list of contenders isn’t limited to Arapahoe and Cherry Creek. Bruins senior Calli Ringsby is back to defend her 2013 state crown, but the top five placers — and 10 of the top 11 overall — also return, eagerly awaiting their chance to dethrone the Stanford-bound Ringsby.
That’s to say nothing of the 5A team race, where a number of squads are hoping to make the move past the frontrunners.
“There’s a lot of teams with a shot at taking the title,” said Arapahoe coach Pat Wilson, who said consistency will be the key. “We’re just trying to aim for a personal best. That’s what’s going to win it, whoever can average 80 for their three girls. You’re only as good as your third player.”
Regis Jesuit, Highlands Ranch and Dakota Ridge each had two players finish in the top 16 last spring, while Legacy, Rock Canyon and Grandview had top-10 placers. Highlands Ranch’s Jenni Chun was second to Ringsby, finishing seven shots back, while Wood, Legacy’s Sarah Hankins and Dakota Ridge’s Sydney Merchant tied for third.
“It’s always tough when you put out your heart and soul into this game and expect good results at the end,” said Wood, who has signed to compete for the University of Oklahoma in the fall. “At the end of the day I just have been thankful that I played the game I did.”
Wilson said that Wood is even more determined this year and has done extensive work on her short game. The senior shot a 68 at Aurora Hills recently, and she and Ringsby tied for medalist honors in a league tournament at Saddle Rock with scores of 70 last week.
“Hannah is a hard worker but she’s also an efficient worker,” Wilson said. “Rick Pitino used to say it’s not just about working hard at practice, it’s about working smart.”
Arapahoe’s Claudia Davis, who placed sixth a year ago, graduated but the Warriors return plenty of experience. Holly Schaefer tied for 19th a year ago and Nikki Backman was 42nd.
While Wood has been a top-10 placer in each of her first three seasons, Legacy’s Hankins has also trended upward. The Lightning senior placed 19th as a freshman before tying for seventh as a sophomore and third last spring.
Backed by Hankins and her sister Jennifer — who tied for 27th in state as a freshman — Legacy is currently holding a 62-stroke lead in the Front Range League standings with one tournament left, giving the squad a boost of confidence headed into regionals in two weeks. Hankins, who is headed to the University of Wyoming, has battled illness the past few weeks and missed the first tournament of her prep career because of it.
“It gave me the drive to come back and work even harder,” she said.
She’s starting to feel like her old self, and is putting even more focus into her mental game and thinking positive. She relayed former Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton’s quote, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
Hankins is visualizing success, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t comprehend the talent level of the rest of the state.
“It’s driven me all three years to continually get better in state and it’s continuing to push me now,” she said. “These girls are great competition. I really respect their games and try to learn from them. I think I’ve been doing a good job learning from them so far.”
A good majority of the top contenders in the state will take to Rolling Hills Country Club in Golden for the Ashley Forey Memorial on April 28 before regional play gets underway May 5-9. Regional tournaments this spring will be seeded by where teams finish in league play.