Kapaun girls golf makes Kansas high school history with second four-peat of championships
It’s rarefied territory in Kansas high school sports history for a girls golf program to win four straight team championships in a row.
But to pull off a second four-peat? That had never been accomplished.
The Kapaun Mt. Carmel girls golf team made history on Tuesday, pulling away for the Class 5A team championship for the fourth straight year at Carey Park in Hutchinson.
After winning four straight titles from 2013-16, the Crusaders are now the only program in state history to have two four-peats to their name. It was Kapaun’s 10th overall title, which ranks third in state history, only behind St. Thomas Aquinas (13) and Manhattan (11).
“You always feel blessed to be able to win just one and you enjoy it because you know it might never happen again,” Kapaun coach Marie Thomas said. “So that’s why (Tuesday) was unreal. Unreal and surreal. You just appreciate everything about the journey.”
Thomas was an assistant coach on the team during the first four-peat, which correlated with the career of Emma Whitaker, one of the best junior golfers in state history.
Since being promoted to head coach, Thomas is proud of how the program has won the last four titles with a new group almost every year.
Kapaun’s team score of 649 was 31 strokes better than runner-up Hays, as the Crusaders have won by an average margin of 37.3 strokes during their current streak.
“We’re blessed, that’s all I can say,” Thomas said. “You hope at the beginning of every year that you might have an opportunity and you hope it works out, so when everything finally comes through, it’s so well worth it and all of the hard work these girls put in. It’s awesome to see them be successful.”
The cherry on top actually came after the trophy presentation for Kapaun, as freshman Mena Sarinana and Andover sophomore Regan Dusenbery were sent off for a playoff to decide individual medalist honors after the two finished with a 36-hole total of 2-over 144.
After trading pars on the first two holes of the back-nine, Sarinana launched her drive on the par-5 No. 11, then stuck a 7-iron shot from 140 yards to give herself a six-foot eagle putt. The freshman calmly sank the right-to-left putt to capture individual gold.
“The way that she handles herself on the course, you would never think she was a freshman,” Thomas said. “Her demeanor never changes. You would never know from watching her if she was having a good round or a bad round because her temperament is always the same. She just did what she always does and that’s just play golf, play her game.”
Kapaun delivered another dominant performance with its top-four scorers all within the top-15 of the tournament, as Sarinana was joined by sophomore Ava Truong (seventh, 163), senior Tilly Jones (11th, 170) and junior Maddy Cartwright (13th, 172). The other championship team members were sophomore Natalee Runyan and senior Victoria Penaloza.
The next piece of history Kapaun can chase is the longest title streak in state history, which belongs to Aquinas from its six-in-a-row streak from 2007-12. The only other programs to achieve a four-peat in KSHSAA history, which dates back to 1973, are Andover (2004-07), Hoisington (1982-85) and Larned (1986-89).
Other state medalist golfers from Wichita area
In the team race, Bishop Carroll snagged the third-place trophy with a team score of 700. The Golden Eagles were led by senior Bella Jones, who had a 36-hole total of 148 to finish third overall. Other team members included freshman Kinsley Montgomery (21st, 177), sophomore Mary Bina (24th, 180), sophomore Kaylin Dorsey, senior Nevaeh Weninger-Henricks and freshman Ava Spexarth.
Newton freshman Naomi Koontz was also near the top of the leaderboard, ultimately finishing fourth overall at 155. The only other Wichita-area medalist in 5A was Goddard Eisenhower senior Kayla Jensen (17th, 175).
At the Class 4A state tournament played at Salina Municipal, Wellington came away with the third-place trophy with a team score of 705, just behind Wamego’s runner-up score of 698 and just ahead of Winfield’s score of 711.
Wellington was led by sophomore Taryn Viramontes, who made a charge up the leaderboard on Tuesday with a round of 74, the second-lowest in the field, to finish third overall with a 36-hole total of 153. The Crusaders also featured sophomore Claire Ginter (175), sophomore Presley Cornejo (178), senior Evelyn Trafecanty (202), senior Aubrey Hunt (204) and freshman Kenna Maxwell (242).
Just two days after reaching the state championship tennis match in doubles, McPherson sophomore Brodie Kuhn wrapped up a standout fall season with a fifth-place finish at the 4A state golf tournament with a 36-hole total of 158.
Other local 4A state medalists included Winfield sophomore Lilli Sympson (seventh, 159), Winfield senior Carley Littell (12th, 163) and Buhler senior Marlie Cooper (18th, 173).
At the Class 6A state tournament at Emporia Municipal, Wichita Southeast freshman Alina Lam tied for 10th place with a score of 156 with Maize senior Alexis Elliott notching an 18th-place finish at 167.
At the Class 3-1A state tournament played in Hesston, local medalists included Hesston senior Meg Werner (15th, 184) and Eureka senior Annaliese Casper (18th, 186).
