One of the hallmark signs of a top tier program is continued success, regardless of the impact of graduation.
Montezuma-Cortez boys golf appears poised to keep their program’s strong tradition intact, in spite of the departure of 2022 state champion Thayer Plewe.
Led by seniors Kaden Huff and Airoughn Morris, along with juniors Vince Lopez and Gavin Frost, the Panthers have their sights set on another consecutive top 10 result in the 3A state championships. Added to that equation, M-CHS has another large squad this fall, with a double-digit roster for head coach Todd Plewe’s group.
As the first CHSAA sanctioned sport to kick off the 2023-24 athletic calendar, the M-CHS golf team set an early tone for what the high school hopes will be another successful year in athletic competition.
“We had great turnout this summer,” said Plewe, “and we’re fortunate that the golf course is very welcoming of these young men to be able to come out and keep improving.”
M-CHS claimed seventh at state as a team last year, with top returner Vince Lopez helping guide a wealth of returning talent. Lopez posted a top-20 individual effort as a sophomore, with a work ethic that earns him recognition among the best in the classification.
While Lopez served as a fixture on the practice areas at Conquistador Golf Course over the summer months, his teammates turned out in droves for voluntary practices to help prep the Panthers for the season.
Huff, named captain for the team this fall, looks to provide vocal leadership and consistency for the Panthers this year. Both Huff and Morris have state tournament experience, and hope to play prominent roles in a return trip.
“Kaden’s a great leader,” lauded Plewe. “He treats the other kids with respect, and is really encouraging to his teammates.”
Frost’s game continues to skyrocket over the past 12 months, and now the junior looks to play a big role in providing the Panthers with balanced scoring. Case-and-point, Frost scorched his first home tournament of the year, posting a lifetime best 73 to help guide the Panthers to a team victory on Conquistador.
M-CHS collected the team title in their first home invitational, edging out Monte Vista by two strokes, thanks to a steady team effort. Behind Frost’s five-birdie, individual runner-up round, the Panthers placed three golfers in the top 10 in the individual standings. Huff posted a five-over-par 77, while Lopez carded an 81 to round out the team’s total of 231.
Morris added an 85, while junior Frankey Montoya fired a 90 to rank among the top Panthers on the afternoon.
“Putting saved me a lot today,” said Frost of his banner round, “and I was able to hit 16 greens in regulation and drive the ball well.”
Knowing that the sport is full of ups and downs, Frost added that overall team success will come from having support from the entire roster.
“We’ve got each others’ backs,” added the junior. “If one of us doesn’t shoot well, we know that someone else is going to step up.”
“You never know when the good or bad days are going to come,” said Huff of his team’s resilience, “but we recognize that it’s a team sport, so we have to play smart and use our heads a little bit more.”
Even without firing on all cylinders in their team title, the Panthers have made an early-season statement that they will be a regional contender yet again. “We also know that when we play our best, we’re going to be able to play with any team that we step up against,” said Huff.
While the season is still young, the Panthers have plenty to be excited about. M-CHS will return home on Aug. 31 for their second home invitational. Meanwhile, regional play takes place at Cattails Golf Course in Alamosa, with top teams and individuals qualifying for the 3A state tournament at RainDance National Resort in Windsor in early October.
