Wichita girls golf preview: Meet the top 10 players, team title contenders in the area
Although the 2020 fall season won’t look exactly the same, some of the Wichita area’s top high school girls golfers are ready to tee off.
Here is a look at the top 10 returning players and teams in the area:
Top 10 players
1. Shauna Lee, Andover Central, Sr.
In her second season at Andover Central after transferring across town, Lee has her sights on an individual state championship in her senior season after coming in third place as a junior.
2. Britney Wessley, Maize South, Sr.
Wessley has been a rock for the Maize South golf program since she arrived. Pledged to Newman, she is looking to go out with a bang. She took ninth place in Class 5A in 2019.
3. Lexie Ridder, Maize, Sr.
Ridder is the headliner on what could be an outstanding Maize girls golf team this year. She was an All-Metro selection last year after a top 10 performance at state.
4. Alexa Garrett, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, So.
Garrett was without question the top freshman girls golfer in the Wichita area last season. She earned All-Metro honors and placed eighth in Class 5A.
5. Payton Ginter, Wellington, Sr.
Ginter is looking to keep Wellington girls golf on the map in 2020. The Crusaders will lean on her experience, especially at state, for guidance.
6. Brooklyn Blasdel, Maize, Sr.
Blasdel is an underrated multi-sport athlete. Also a state qualifying swimmer, she finished in a tie for 15th place in Class 5A last year.
7. Elly Bertholf, Winfield, Sr.
Like Ginter, Bertholf will be the biggest reason for keeping her team on the map in Kansas high school girls golf. She was a regional champion in 2019.
8. Tiffany Chan, Andover, Sr.
The Class 5A individual champion two years ago, Chan will be looking to take control again in 2020 after a dip as a junior. She is now a team leader.
9. Alivia Nguyen, Andover, Sr.
Like Chan, Nguyen will be called on to lead the Trojans on and off the course. She has plenty of experience and is a former AVCTL champion.
10. Abby Wolff, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Sr.
Kapaun has a chance to compete for a trophy in Class 5A this season, and if the Crusaders make it there, they will have Wolff to thank for her senior leadership.
Top 10 teams
1. Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders
It has been years since a team not named Andover was the best in the Wichita area, but with a beautiful blend of youth and experience with talent throughout, 2020 might see the return of Kapaun golf.
2. Andover Trojans
Losing Madison Slayton to Wichita State is a massive loss for Andover. With former state and league champions on the roster though, the Trojans won’t be far away from the top of Class 5A again.
3. Maize Eagles
Maize has two outstanding players in Ridder and Blasdel. If the Eagles can get production out of the rest of the roster, there is no question they can’t finish higher than they did in 2019.
4. Buhler Crusaders
Buhler is the defending Class 4A state champion, but the Crusaders have a lot to replace. Individual runner-up Haley Miller has graduated, which means Buhler will need to fill that massive void.
5. Wellington Crusaders
There is no question Wellington will compete toward the top of Class 4A this season. With a top end player in Ginter on her senior season, the Crusaders’ battle for a trophy will be entertaining.
6. Winfield Vikings
Winfield is similar to Wellington this season. With a standout player in Bertholf, the Vikings are looking to build on its third-place finish as a team in Class 4A last year.
7. Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles
Carroll’s Keira Ronsick finished in a tie for 15th place in Class 5A last year. She will be a major key to the Eagles’ return toward the top of the classification.
8. Maize South Mavericks
The Mavericks are in a bit of a rebuild, but with arguably the best player in school history still on the roster, there is no telling how highly they can finish as a team.
9. Andover Central Jaguars
Like Maize South, Andover Central will be chasing Andover for the AVCTL II title. The Jaguars have perhaps the area’s best returning player in Lee, but who will step up in 2020?
10. Andale Indians
Andale lost a lot, most important its individual Class 4A state champion, Morgan Brasser. Without Brasser, the Indians enter a rebuilding year in 2020.