CORTEZ – Few teams restock the cupboard like Montezuma-Cortez boys golf.
After another off-season that included the graduation of three of their state qualifiers from a year ago, the Panthers are getting right back in the saddle for a new season. Included in the reshuffle, M-CHS welcomes in a new head coach, as longtime Panthers football defensive coordinator Jarrett Watkins moves over to the links to lead the way, following the spring season where he served in the same post for the girls team.
An eager wave of student-athletes have taken over the practice facilities at Conquistador Golf Course, with nearly 20 golfers vying for varsity spots this fall.
While the battle for chances to play in the big tournaments over the next two months will be highly competitive, Watkins does have a clear-cut leader to fill in on the No. 1 pairings this season. Sophomore Zye Kuenzler made his state debut and finished as the fifth-ranked freshman in the 3A field, taking 55th overall to help the Panthers claim eighth place as a team. Kuenzler classmate Brooks Story pushed for a varsity spot last year, and looks to make an immediate impact now that he’ll be a part of Watkins’ regular rotation.
Sophomore Rylan Maloney and juniors Cash Rogers and Gavin Gill bring their experience from last year’s squad, as the team looks to continue to appear regularly in the top three of almost every tournament they enter. The Panthers will see plenty of rising talent up and down the leader board with Lucas Zufelt, Owen Balfour, and Malachi Padilla among the many names in the mix for varsity roles.
Watkins looks forward to the players pushing each other, with plenty of competition from some newcomers to the program for coveted spots. It’s the same formula that has kept the program at such a high level over the years.
The Panthers open the season on Aug. 15 at Alamosa, before back-to-back tournaments in Durango on Aug. 18 and the Panthers’ home tournament the following day at Conquistador. M-CHS will play several other Western Slope mainstay courses in Pagosa Springs, Montrose, and Grand Junction in September – all in preparation for the 3A regional tournament at the end of the month. M-CHS hopes to qualify another strong contingent to the state tournament, which will be hosted by Eagle Ranch Golf Club in Eagle on Oct. 6-7.
