Golf and Grades: Mira Costa Girls Excel at Both

It was a memorable year on the links for the Mira Costa girls golf program as coach Jim Hands' young group claimed the Bay League title.

While the girls were proud of their work on the golf course, they also excelled in the classroom and were recognized for their efforts at Angels Stadium during a May 9 Angels vs. Chicago White Sox baseball game along with other teams from around Southern California.

“It’s an honor for the girls as students as well as athletes," said Hands. "Oftentimes it’s the student part that gets forgotten, but it’s great they get recognized for their hard work."

The Mustangs earned a 2011 CIF Southern Section Team Academic Championship for girls golf at a school with enrollment of 1,500 or more.

“We are a double threat: a strong golf team and also really great in academics," said Kerri Gordon. "It’s a proud honor for us to be great in both areas.” 

The varsity team, consisting of Raquel Gordon, Kerri Gordon, Megan Kim, Chari Noddings, Mika Pascual, Jenny Johnson and Nicole White managed a stellar 3.977 cumulative grade point average.

“Even though we are a younger group, there is a certain level of maturity on this team," said Hands."They understand that grades are important and work hard to achieve their goals."

The Mustangs varsity team doesn't have a single senior on it. Junior Noddings is the elder stateswoman, the Gordon sisters are the only sophomores and a bevy of freshmen include Kim, Pascual, Johnson and White.

“We were told as freshman that the hardest academic jump in high school is going from freshman to sophomores and really worked at balancing our schedules,” Raquel Gordon said.

The award is given for the girls’ achievement during the fall. Thankfully, following the golf season, the players had some time to study before end of quarter tests began.

“Finals started right after golf," said Kerri Gordon. "We are always playing catch up with homework from golf tournaments. Once it ended we could just focus on school."

Additionally, the girls team is being honored for their efforts with a $500 grant from the Women’s Southern California Golf Association.

“Not many people can say that their team had a 3.97 GPA and won a bay league championship,” Pascual said.

The girl golfers' lofty GPA of 3.977 was only edged out by the girls cross-country team from Apple Valley Christian who bested the Mustangs by .001 with a 3.978 mark.

“I learned how to prioritize and balance my schedule more this year with lots of advanced placement classes like chemistry and U.S. history," said Noddings. "Those were demanding."

All of the girls believed that characteristics needed on the golf course have helped them with their studies. Said Megan Kim, “You have to have integrity, stay positive and work hard in both [to succeed].”