2023 Spring Sports Preview: Golf Capsules for Greater Spokane League Boys and Girls Teams
From personnel reports
Capsules for the Greater Spokane League boys’ and girls’ golf teams.
4A/3A
Central Valley: Boys: Three district qualifiers return for fourth-year coach Brain Spencer: seniors Brock Johnson and Mason Hughbanks and junior Andy Shumway. “We have a solid group of guys returning who all have GSL and tournament experience,” Spencer said.
Girl: Rob Rowe enters his fifth year with three-year winner Darbie Anderson and junior Alivia Lanphere as his leaders. “We’re a fairly young team working to improve our game,” Rowe said.
Gonzaga Preparation: Boys: Eight returns for coaches Dennis Doughery (27) and David McKenna (five), led by second-place GSL MVP Alex Cook and top-10 finisher Dillon Strock. Cook will go to Grand Canyon University in the fall.
Lewis and Clark: Boys: Five starters and 10 letter winners return for coach Brett Meenach, beginning his 10th season overall and fourth at LC. Three state qualifiers, all juniors, form the core: Jack Butler, Geo Pirrie and Henry Staples.
Girl: Coach Michelle Grafos enters her 18th season with the Tigers with a tally of one state title, three individual states champions and nine GSL titles. She has six returnees, including sophomore Amanda Nguyen, who finished ninth and led LC to a fifth-place finish. “We have a number of talented and athletic golfers on this year’s team who now have league/states playing experience,” Grafos said. “We’re going to be a force in the league again this season.”
3A
Cheney: Boys: Six starters are returning for coach Jeff Pike in his 28th season, led by seniors Alex Hinrichs and Jake Vallance and junior Evan Stinson, all of whom are coming off their basketball seasons. “We’re a pretty young team with a lot of potential,” said Pike. “I’m very proud of this respectful and hard-working group.”
Girl: Manager Gerald Morton has a young squad with two returns in his 20th season. The Blackhawks are led by sophomores Elsa Bertelsen and Loraiza Canoto. “We have several girls who are showing great progress early in the season,” Morton said. “Willing to take them outside to see what talent they have.”
Ferris: boys: Sophomore Ryan Lamb has three returnees, including state-qualified juniors Patrick Luby and Ethan Miller, and district qualifier senior Joey Cortner.
Girl: Fourth-year coach Laurie Smith has four returnees, including junior Anna Morse, who qualified for the state last season, and district qualifier Maddy Olson. “This is an amazing group of young women who are extremely trainable but are also excellent people on and off the pitch,” said Smith.
Mead: Boys: Paul Peters returns as Panthers coach for his 37th season. He has led Mead to 13 GSL titles and four state championships, finishing just short of the total with second place last year. The senior triumvirate of Ben Jones, Benjamin Mulder and Bradley Mulder should have them back.
Girl: The Panthers were GSL champions and ranked eighth in the state, but GSL MVP Taylor Mularski now plays with Gonzaga. First-team All-GSL junior Brooke Bloom and second-team senior Stella Elmore are now taking leadership roles — both players were state contestants. “Expectations are high and the girls are excited,” said Year 12 coach Keith Ross.
Mount Spokane: Boys: The Wildcats were runners-up at the Regionals last year and are returning as a four-man in their second season for coach Terry Cloer. Junior Stetson Gilbert was a first-team All-GSL and 21st in the state, while senior Johnny Molenda finished 32nd. “If others move up like last year, we can qualify as a team for the state,” Cloer said.
Girl: Ryan Nelson’s 22nd season, eighth with the Wildcats, begins with three returnees, including first-team All-GSL and state qualifier Mia Bontrager.
North Central: Boys: According to coach Jeff Tapp, newcomer Tiegen Brill is “one to watch out for”. Brill trains at Kalispel Golf and Country Club and is a nationally recognized amateur “with an exciting future,” said his coach.
ridgeline: Boys: The Falcons were third in the league last season and are bringing back six starters for coach Nick Seaman. Junior Griffin Thorpe ranked 32nd in the state. “Our team has doubled to 38 boys in our sophomore year as a program with numerous key youngsters who will continue to grow the Ridgeline program,” said Seaman.
Girl: Five starters return for second-year coach Brittany Pounds, including frontrunner Carolyn Rose, who qualified for the state as a freshman last season. “We missed qualifying for the districts by just five points, but qualified four people,” Pounds said. “I’m excited to see what this season will bring.”
University: Boys: Juniors Caleb Walcott and Gavin Patterson are key returnees for coach Joe Turman, who is entering his 17th season with the Titans. “We have a good core of returnees,” he said. “The additions from last year should be able to make their contribution this season.”
Girl: Sophomore coach Dan Dodge had a young team but two returners who should be pushing for status: seniors Elliana Broach and Alexandra Rule. “We look forward to seeing the rest of the team fill in the remaining spots for league play,” said Dodge.
2A
Clarkston: Boys: Coach Brian Frazier has four starters back in his 27th season: senior Caleb Daniel and juniors Carson Sanders, Deion Thornton and Killian Snyder. “We have a lot of newer players in the game who are evolving,” Frazier said.
Girl: Paige Frazier goes into her fifth season with the Bantams with three returnees: seniors Hailey Mendenhall, Tierney McKarcher and Sammy Hudgins.
east valley: Boys: Coach Adam Fisher starts his fifth season with five returns, including seniors Maddox Callihan and Jesse Stevens. “This will be our best team in five years,” Fisher said. “We’re gaining depth and kids who have players at a higher level than before.”
Girl: Coach John Phelan takes charge of the girls team with three returnes: seniors Shawnee Munns and Cece Syron and junior Kaiden Davis.
Pullman: Boys: The Greyhounds were second in the GSL last season and finished 10th. Five from that team are returning for third-year coach Parker Ruehl, including two sophomores who were in the state’s top 25: Parker Legried and Trae Frederickson. “The emergence of (Legried and Frederickson) as well as the improvement of the rest of the varsity team put us in a good position for the championship title,” said Ruehl.
Girl: Pullman placed second behind then-senior Lauren Greeny, who finished fourth in the singles. Four of that team are returning for eighth-year coach John Willy, including Ryliann Bednar and Mataline Rink, first-team All-GSL selections. “Replacing Lauren is a big job,” said Willy. “I think our returnees are up to the challenge of repeating themselves as league champions.”
Rogers: Boys: Shawn Carney is back for his 10th season as boys team coach and 13th overall. He brings back all five varsity players from last season, including state qualifier Wyatt Hart.
shadow park: Boys: First-year coach Shannon Brown has inherited a young squad. “We’re in a rebuilding year and we’re starting a lot of undergraduates,” he said. Jonah Kern returns for the Highlanders.
west valley: Boys: State qualifier junior Keason Silva and senior Kaleb Rydell lead coach Craig Whitney’s team. “We should be competitive,” he said. “We’re excited to see how we fare.”
Girl: Sophomore coach Ty Brown has three junior returns led by state qualifier Spencer Cerenzia and is sparked by freshman Melia Cerenzia. “The addition of Melia will be great,” Brown said. “She and her sister are two of the best golfers in town.”
