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JDCHS girls golf led by two All-State golfers

May 29, 2022 01:18PM ● By Catherine Garrett

By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

For the second consecutive year, the Juan Diego Catholic High School girls golf team placed in the top five at the state tournament. This year, playing in 3A, the Soaring Eagle squad came in fourth behind the play of sophomore Grayson Gagnon and junior captain Cabria Walters May 11-12 at Oquirrh Hills Golf Course. Gagnon duplicated her results from her freshman year at the 2021 state tournament with a seventh place finish while Walters came in 10th, both earning All-State honors.

“The girls had some tough conditions to deal with both days, but battled hard. Scores were higher for every team,” said head coach Jason Andersen. “I am so proud of Grayson and Cabria and the whole team.”

Gagnon and Walters shot a 90 and 96 the first day, respectively, and made a push the final day to move up the leadership with rounds of 88 and 87 and be recognized as All-State golfers.

Other placers at state for Juan Diego—who scored 780 as a team behind first-place finisher Richfield’s 674—were sophomore Ashley Cutshall (tied for 25th), sophomore Zoe Pappas (tied for 46th), sophomore Jazmin Asmar (57th) and freshman Abby Quercia (68th).

This season was shortened initially due to the weather, but once Juan Diego got on the course, they made the most of it. In the first tournament at Glendale March 9, Gagnon shot a 75 to win medalist honors.

“I have been coaching for six years in 3A and 4A and this is the lowest score I have seen in region play,” Andersen said. “I am so proud of Grayson. Her focus and determination is incredible.”

Gagnon’s round was tops in Region 15 for the season and she was joined on the All-Region team by Walters, Cutshall and Asmar in leading the Soaring Eagle squad to a second-place finish in the region. Cutshall’s 85 at The Ridge April 6 was a personal best while Pappas’ play the first day of state—with a score of 108—placed her in fourth on the team and earned the sophomore a varsity letter.

Andersen’s mantra for the girls golf program he is building is: “It’s not good, it’s not bad, it just is.” Despite the small numbers, his past two teams have third- and fourth-place finishes in the state with two All-State golfers each of those years.

“It doesn’t get much closer to a family than we are as a team,” Andersen said of his seven-member squad, which also included sophomore—and newcomer to golf—Brooklyn Willes who competes in cheer as well.