Having Xavier Prep win another Division I state championship sort of feels like the romantic comedy Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, where the main characters are trapped in a mysterious time loop where the day plays over and over again for who knows how long. For the state of Arizona, that day started in 1980, when the Gators won their first state championship and it continued this past Monday and Tuesday at the Aguila Golf Course, where the program earned number 41. In that time, only six teams have been able to break the grip held by former head coach Sr. Lynn Winsor and current head coach Tui Selvaratnam.

Winsor handed the clock over to Selvaratnam in 2015 and the former ASU standout earned her ninth state championship - only time will tell if she will be able to match the 32 that Winsor collected. By comparison, Xavier Prep has 41 titles and Cactus Shadows is next with nine, which matches the number Selvaratnam earned.

Xavier Prep outlasted Pinnacle 595-599 and the Gators were able hold onto that slim margin thanks to three finishers in the top seven including individual state champion Alexis Lamadrid, who shot an 8-under-par 136 (68-68) to hold off Liberty junior Natalia Fox, who finished with a 5-under 139 (71-68). Pinnacle had two medalists, including senior Kaitlyn Moreland (Washington State) who took third with a 2-under 142 (72-70).

This was the third state championship in a row for Lamadrid but the Texas commit made things a bit closer with a bogey on the 16th hole and she got that stroke back thanks to an eagle on the 17th.

Former Gator Ashley Menne won three in a row starting in 2016 before she went on to play for ASU, former Xavier Prep and Horizon standout Grace Park won three in a row starting in 1994 before she became an NCAA champion for ASU and former Gator Heather Farr won three in a row starting in 1979 before playing for ASU.

Medalists from right to left. (Alyson Schmitt Photo/AZPreps365)

 

TEAM SCORES

1 Xavier 595 (+19)

2 Pinnacle 599 (+23)

3 Perry 612 (+36)

4 Liberty 617

5 Millennium 630

6 Red Mountain 633

7 Desert Vista 643

8 Casteel 646

9 Corona del Sol 684

10 Boulder Creek 691

11 Canyon View 723

12 Sandra Day O'Connor 738

 

INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS

1 Alexis Lamadrid, Sr. Xavier: 68-68: 136 (-8)

2 Natalia Fox, Jr. Liberty: 71-68: 139 (-5)

3 Kaitlyn Moreland, Sr. Pinnacle: 72-70: 142 (-2)

4 Claire Brooks, Fr. Xavier: 72-73: 145

4 Jacqueline Michael, Sr. Desert Vista: 71-74: 145

6 Catherine Seder, Sr. Red Mountain: 74-72: 146

7 Addison Taylor, So. Xavier: 75-73: 148

7 Taylor Underhill, Jr. Perry: 73-75: 148

9 Makaleigh Churan, Sr. Perry: 76-74: 150

9 Joelle Evenson, Jr. Canyon View: 77-73: 150

9 Emersyn Oldroyd, Jr. Pinnacle: 75-75: 150

 

TEAM STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

44: Brophy Prep Boys Swim & Dive

41: Xavier Prep Girls Golf

39: Sunnyside Boys Wrestling

29: Xavier Prep Girls Swim & Dive

29: Tucson Baseball

27: Hopi Boys Cross Country

24: Brophy Prep Boys Tennis

24: Miami Girls Tennis

24: Phoenix Union Boys Track & Field

23: Tucson Girls Tennis

22: Hopie Girls Cross Country

22: Arcadia Girls Swim & Dive

21: Safford Girls Volleyball

21: Page Boys Cross Country

21: Tuba City Boys Cross Country

20: Xavier Prep Girls Soccer

20: Duncan Girls Tennis

20: Xavier Prep Girls Tennis