Scott Melesky
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy hasn't been known for creating
headlines with respect to its golf program.
Normally, the spotlight on the hill pertains to the school's
successful volleyball and cross-country squads.
The volleyball and cross-country teams last season had to get
accustomed to sharing top billing with the golf team, which recorded
a surprising second-place finish in the Mission League and placed
13th out of 19 teams in the CIF Southern Section Central Team
Divisional at Yucaipa Golf Club.
But the foundation will be considerably different for the Tologs,
who will have a new coach in Shane Coney.
Coney succeeds Andrew Holzinger, who resuscitated the program
after it failed to appear in the playoffs in 2002.
"I want to refine their skills, and the [idea] will be to get them
to play at a certain level," said Coney, who is a third-year pro at
the La Canada Country Club.
The Tologs will be led by junior Marcela Campbell and sophomore
Lauren Wheeler, who enjoyed breakout seasons last year. However,
Flintridge Sacred Heart lost the services of Paulina Carrillo and
Marilupe Rosas.
Carrillo and Rosas were exchange-students from Guadalajara,
Mexico, and provided a much-needed shot in the arm for the Tologs.
Flintridge Sacred Heart will look to rebound from the losses of
Carrillo and Rosas.
Perhaps Crescenta Valley will copy the formula used by Flintridge
Sacred Heart last season.
CV Coach Ken Johnson has adhered to patience since he took over
the program in 2002 from John Pehar. The Falcons have struggled,
winning just five matches during Johnson's tenure.
CV finished 3-7 last season and didn't qualify for the playoffs
for a third consecutive year. Johnson said he'll remain optimistic
with the idea that CV can move forward.
He'll turn to seniors Ally Forsling and Janice Lee, whose
experience provides a calming influence on the underclassmen.
"I really feel that we have a good chance of going .500," Johnson
said. "Each year we have gotten better. My first year we had one win
and we won [three] in my second season."
Other returning players that might make an impact are junior Stacy
Yoon and sophomores Amy Pramuantong, Leslie Hyun and Leah Chang.
CV will have a difficult schedule. The Falcons will compete
against Arcadia, Saugus, Burbank, Burroughs and San Marino.
"We will face a lot of successful programs, and that will test our
skills," Johnson said.
