Sports Young Golf Stars Storm the Course
Sophomores Josh Hill and Cooper Taylor shine by Tyler Debord
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ood patience, and a steady mental approach are two skills that any successful golfer will have. For sophomores Josh Hill and Cooper Taylor, these must-haves are present in their games. Hill began playing when he was in seventh grade and, “just stuck with it.” In regard to his sophomore season, Hill is critical of himself and said, “I played well one week, other than that it’s been a sophomore slump.” Taylor started playing this summer and hasn’t looked back since. “I’ve been pretty consistent, just one bad round,” said Taylor. All players have different strategies to be
able to compete well. However, the game of golf requires a different kind of edge, and being patient is the key. These young players believe that playing against each other is very beneficial. “Cooper [is my motivation], just trying to beat him everyday,” Hill said. Taylor’s inspiration, in contrast, comes from Hill. These two golf stars push themselves to make each other better. Planning ahead is a huge part of a practice plan, Taylor believes this and said, “It helps to play the course ahead of time to get a feel for it and to see where to hit the ball.” Hill added, “Visualize what suits your eye, if the course doesn’t fit you well, you won’t play well.” The game of golf can be frustrating at times for these two stars, but Hill copes with
Sophomore Cooper Taylor lines up a putt on the Pebble Beach Golf Links on December 7, 2011. (Photo credit: John Taylor)
this fact saying, “I try not to think about my last round.” Hill and Taylor have both had breakout
years, but with two more years of varsity golf left for the duo, there is much more left to accomplish.
Family on the Field the stadium that Freshman Keoni Stout helps football team bond never was by Bridget Anthony
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t is common knowledge that Monarch has a dominant football team. What is hidden behind that dominance is a group of guys who have learned that they can count on each other. After slamming each other to the ground every day at practice, they have created a special bond. This year, freshman Keoni Stout managed to get his whole team dancing and chanting. Stout has brought his Polynesian culture to Monarch this year, namely the football team, and taught them the Haka dance. “It helps you get pumped up and helps release your nerves. It is supposed to intimidate your opponent or enemy,” said Stout. Senior Austin Beswick exclaimed that it was a very funny experience, “but we weren’t very good at it, so we still need to practice.” Sophomore Chad Sloan agreed, and said, “It was more like stomping. The hardest part is the words.” The haka is not just a matter of dancing; there is a chant that goes along with the movements, enhancing the fierce effect. Stout open enrolled into Monarch High School to be a part of Monarch’s legendary football team. Phil Bravo, head football coach, coached Stout’s uncle, Jason Stout, and has always been close with his whole family. “Two days after he was born I held him. I told him he was going to be a very special boy,” said Bravo of Keoni Stout. Jason Stout is on the Monarch coaching staff with Bravo, adding a family aspect to the team dynamics. As a freshman on varsity, Stout said it was very intimidating at first, “but then, once I
got more involved, my nerves went away, and they made me feel like I was another one of those players.”
Bravo Freshman Keoni Stout smiles on the said that sideline during the 2nd quarter of their love for the football team’s 55-7 victory over each other Kennedy H.S. on September 21st. is palpable, even to the (Photo credit: Charlie Light) coaches. “Everybody sticks up for everybody. If I get on someone’s butt, everybody backs up everybody and encourages them. It’s a fun team,” he said. With Stout playing varsity, he has closed the age gap that usually takes place between the freshmen team and varsity. “Everybody grows around each other; I think those who are involved with Keoni personally see that he is just a beautifully natured young boy,” said Bravo. The Monarch football team is group of strong players, but that will only get a team so far. There must be team chemistry in addition to talent to create success. This season, the team dynamics have improved greatly with the help of Keoni Stout’s infectious attitude. “We consider each other as brothers,” said Stout, “It is more about who you play with, and becoming a family. My football team is my second family.”
Multi-use stadium in original plans by Conner Lund
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uses two buses and has about two more hours added to their pregame routine as a result of playing at Centaurus High School. The issue of having a home stadium has been shown to be a matter of money; money that Monarch does not currently have.
“Down to the penny, we knew how much it would cost to build a stadium,” said Mark Sibley, former athletic director. The administration has known this figure since 1998; the only issue was how to fund this massive project.
On the other hand, Coach Bravo and the football team have no issue with playing at Centaurus. “We have now grown into the system, and that’s where we play our home games, ” said Bravo. “The uniqueness is that we have a facility for expansion. A lot of teams, like Fairview, share a field, and have no room for expansion.”
fter 14 years of the school being open, the Monarch football team still doesn’t have a stadium on campus. Yet in the early years of Monarch High School, there were plans to build a football stadium at the school.
“The reality is, we would only need to build a press box and one side of bleachers. Even the bleachers will cost $30-35,000. We would need to cut into the side of the hill and lay concrete, and that’s where it would cost a lot of money” said Sibley. The administration, although making no significant push right now, still has their sights set on building a stadium in the future. Sibley expanded, “We have accepted this situation, but we haven’t abandoned hope. Our kids have never known what it’s like to play at our home. Hopefully, sometime it can happen.” In terms of the current stadium situation, Sibley said, “There is no benefit for playing at Centaurus.” The football team
The orignal plans featured elevated bleachers built into the hill and the ability to host track and field meets. (Photo
credit: Design Concepts)
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