Niwot girls golf sending trio to state championships

For the second consecutive spring, Alena Kasanicky, Mina O'Dell and Kate Jones are all set to represent Niwot High School at the Class 4A girls golf state championships, which runs May 30-31 at Thorncreek Golf Course in Thornton.

Each member of Niwot's trio qualified for the state's big dance after putting up a strong showing at the 4A Region 3 tournament at The Fox Hill Club in Longmont on May 23. Kasanicky and O'Dell, a sophomore and a junior, respectively, carded an 86 while the senior Jones shot a 102.

One of Kasanicky's top moments this season came back in March when she won a league meet hosted by Northridge High School at the Boomerang Golf Club in Greeley. The young Niwot golfer scored a 76.

On May 4, the Niwot golfers won a league event at Fox Hill without Kasanicky, who also participates in track. "Mina finished second and shot 85 and Kate finished third and shot 86," Coach Ed Weaver said. "Ayla [Schatz] shot 97 and finished 10th. Ayla and Kate's scores were personal bests."

On May 9, the Cougars hosted the Niwot League event at Twin Peaks Golf Course. "While we finished third as a team, we had three golfers shoot personal best scores in a high school tournament," Weaver said. O'Dell finished in a tie for first place, shooting a personal best at 80, Jones finished tied for third with a personal best 84, and Emmy Hostelley shot a personal best as well. "I am very proud of the team," he said "We seem to be playing our best golf of the season."

At the two-round state tournament last year, Kasanicky placed 11th, then-senior Sydney Rothstein ended her prep career in 15th, Jones was 47th and O'Dell 55th. Niwot as a team took fifth out of 12 schools in Class 4A.

In the 4A state tournament's first round on May 30 at Thorncreek Golf Course in Thornton, each of Niwot's three golfers is scheduled to start on the back nine with Kasanicky teeing off first at 8:30 a.m.

"I want the girls to try to play their best (and) have fun," Weaver said. "I've got one senior, a junior and a sophomore, so the underclasswomen can gain some more experience. Alena, who's my No. 1 player, finished 11th in the state last year, but she hasn't been playing as much golf because she went out for the track team, too."