Niwot girls golf preview: small but talented team eyes return to state

What the 2022 Niwot girls golf team lacks in size it more than makes up for in talent, and the tight-knit group should be a force to reckon in the postseason, sixth-year golf coach Ed Weaver said. Led by three-time state qualifier Sydney Rothstein, the six-member team features a balance of returning talent, plus some "exciting" new players who will add depth and give the team a competitive edge.

"Last year I had a senior, junior, sophomore, and freshman, at the state tournament," Weaver said. "So I lose a senior, pick up a freshman, and the expectation is that all four will be at the state tournament again."

The aforementioned junior, now senior, is Rothstein, the only remaining member of the 2019 Cougars golf team that finished second overall at the Class 4A state championships. In 2021, she finished 23rd overall at state, with a two-day score of 175 (84,91). For her fourth and final season, Rothstein is eyeing not just another return to the postseason, but to bidding a fond farewell to the sport and team that has been an important part of her life.

"My goal, especially after missing my sophomore year [due to the pandemic], is making this season a good exit from high school golf," she said during a recent practice. "I'm not going to play golf in college, and that just makes it super important to have fun this season. Especially since I have a lot of close friends on the team, and it's a really small team, I think the goal is just to have a family-unit kind of team dynamic, that you can just go out and really just have a lot of fun."

Joining Rothstein from 2021 are junior Kate Jones and sophomore Mina O'Dell, two more state-qualifiers. With a year of experience behind them, Weaver expects both to put it to good use in 2022.

New to Cougars golf are a group that Weaver refers to as the "A" team: Alena Kasanicky, Alex Mounce, and Ayla Schatz, three freshmen with previous golf experience who will be ready to contribute right away. Both Weaver and Rothstein said they are "excited" to have the infusion of new talent, and are eager to finally see them in action.

"I've known Alena forever, and we've played together since we were really little," Rothstein said. "With the other two freshmen, we've done a lot of team hounding over the past week. They're all super lovely and have great swings as well."

The 2022 season has had a bit of a rough start for the Cougars, as snow has kept golfers off the course, even for practice. Instead, Weaver and his crew have been hitting balls at Top Golf, or working out in Niwot's gym, a first for the team. Their season opener, once scheduled for March 9, is now slated for March 19 at the Chilly Chili Invitational at Eagle Trace golf course in Broomfield.

Weaver is once again looking ahead to a competitive year in the Longs Peak League when tournament play opens on March 29th at Highland Hills golf course in Greeley. The team will travel to Quail Dunes in Fort Morgan a total of four times this season, including for the Class 4A Region 3 champions on May 24. The 2022 Class 4A championships will be held May 31-June 1 at Tiara Rado golf course in Grand Junction.