Jacob Shanker is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Hamilton High School for AZPreps365.

 

Xavier and Hamilton Golf girls golf teams continued their longstanding rivalry as both teams contedned for state championship glory once again.

The two golf programs have rivaled each other for many years. 

“Exciting but at the same time intimidating,” Hamilton girls head coach, Jackie Walker said. “Xavier has some very talented golfers and they put as much time and commitment into the game as we do.”

Huskies girls golf had lost to the Gators earlier in the season with a final score of 149-167. In a season that has started off hot for Hamilton, this loss has been one of their few losses. 

“Coming against another strong team with a good team mindset helps them to prepare a little more cohesively,” Walker said.

Since 2015 both programs have finished in the top three in every state championship. 

During that time, Xavier won four championships, while Hamilton won one, the 2022 State Championship. Xavier had been in search of another state title for years as the last time they won the title was in 2020.

 

Despite the fact that Hamilton is relatively young, they have already been making a name for themselves. The Huskies have qualified almost every year since the high school was created 26 years ago.

On Sept. 2, 2022, Xavier's head coach, Tui Selvaratnam, told Azcentral, “The team wants it back. They are working hard towards it. We have all our returning players and new freshmen that will add into the mix. They will work hard and try to get it back."

Xavier’s philosophy of working hard is still evident throughout the program. Selvaratnam had been with Xavier for years and had passed his recipes for success onto the players themselves.  

Both Hamilton and Xavier don’t just emphasize success on the field, but off the field as well.

“At Hamilton, we see high school students at such a high level,” boys golf head coach, Steve Kanner said. “I think that has contributed in a lot of ways to the success of the school.”

Hamilton and Xavier have been top schools in the state for academics for years. They both value a balance between academics and athletics for their student-athletes. 

These two programs are highly successful in part because of the environment in which they take place. Creating a healthy environment for the student-athletes can help their mental toughness both on the course and off.

The Huskies and the Gators have been able to produce some phenomenal athletes who have even gone on to play professional golf. 

“It’s so rewarding to see girls who have graduated, played college golf, and gone on to their careers,” Selvaratnam told azpreps365 on Dec. 3, 2022. “We’ve created a family atmosphere - it’s like a sorority.”