Kelly Wheelock had a blast coaching Central Valley’s girls golf team this fall.
The Hawks competed and improved during the course of the season.
“We have a really good group of girls that are really good kids,” Wheelock said. “The golf part is secondary. They’re fun to be around and work with.”
Shorthanded Central Valley finished sixth in the Western Athletic Conference’s overall standings with four points.
Livingston (49) claimed the team title.
Ceres High (40), Lathrop (35), Pacheco (15), Beyer (7), Grace Davis (1) and Johansen (0) finished second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth, respectively.
The conference’s eight teams earned points based on how they performed during the WAC Championships, Midseason Tournament and Dual Season.
“Aside from Livingston, I think we were just as good as anybody,” Wheelock said. “We held our own with all the other teams. We were very competitive. We improved a lot.”
Central Valley didn’t post team scores during the WAC Championships, league’s midseason tournament and the second half of the conference dual season because of a lack of numbers.
Teams were required to have at least a five-person lineup to qualify for team scoring.
The Hawks competed with just four players.
“A lot of times, we had girls that couldn’t play in matches due to other school commitments,” Wheelock said. “It’s always been like that. I’m all for it. But in some cases, it hurts us as a team.”
Emily Mariani and Elia Hernandez led Central Valley with identical rounds of 105 at the WAC Year-End Tournament.
Hawk teammates Kali Bernal and Audrey Rico shot 123 and 136, respectively.
Central Valley posted a 4-10 record en route to placing fourth during the WAC dual season.
Livingston (14-0) placed first.
Ceres High (10-4) and Lathrop (10-4) tied for second.
Pacheco (7-7) finished third.
Beyer (1-13) and Grace Davis (1-13) were fifth.
Johansen (0-14) was last.
Central Valley bested Pacheco (181-203), Grace Davis (forfeit), Johansen (forfeit) and Beyer (forfeit).
The Hawks notched all four of their wins during the first half of the WAC dual season as a new scoring format benefitted teams that struggled with numbers.
Schools needed just four players to score as a team instead of five.
“We had a lock on second place,” Wheelock said. “After the Midseason Tournament, you could play six players but had to score five. That’s what hurt us. We would have only lost one match if we played the rest of the season scoring four.”
Central Valley re-established its crosstown rivalry with Ceres High this season.
The Hawks compiled an 0-2 record versus the crosstown-rival Bulldogs.
“Reconnecting with Ceres was pretty cool,” Wheelock said. “You’re playing against your friends. Some of their players are my former students.”
“Ceres is good,” he added. “They improved a lot. Coach Ron (Edwards) did a great job.”
Central Valley lost by just six strokes, 184-190, to Ceres High during the first meeting on Sept. 24 at St. Stanislaus.
The Hawks dropped the second meeting by forfeit due to a thin lineup on Oct. 21.
“When we played them the first time, we were missing Elia and Emily,” Wheelock said. “They’re my two, best golfers.”
Central Valley placed fifth in the Central California Conference’s regular-season standings with a 5-7 record and fourth at the CCC Championships in 2023.
The Hawks relocated from the CCC to the WAC this school year as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.
“I loved the move for many reasons,” Wheelock said. “The first reason is travel. Our furthest match was in Manteca. The girls weren’t getting home after 7 p.m. after a match. They got home at a decent time to do their homework. It helped with their studies.”
Central Valley’s roster this season featured six players, including Kali Bernal (Sr.), Elia Hernandez (Jr.), Emily Mariani (Jr.), Adriella Carrasco (So.), Audrey Rico (So.) and Makayla Perez (Fr.).
“I’m proud of the girls,” Wheelock said. “They worked hard. They competed with everybody score-wise. They had great attitudes.”
Bernal will be lost to graduation.
“Each year, she continuously got better,” Wheelock said.
Hernandez, Mariani, Carrasco, Rico and Perez could return to the team next fall.
“They know what they need to work on for next year,” Wheelock said.
