Golfers take Valley pride to state tournament

For the Sharyland Lady Rattlers, Sharyland boys golfer Abraham Ancer and Edinburg North's Felicia Espericueta, it's time to represent.

The Lady Rattlers will be making their first appearance at the Class 5A state golf tournament today and Friday at the Jimmy Clay Golf Club in Austin, while Ancer and Espericueta will be making their second trip to state as they hope to prove that quality golf is played in the Rio Grande Valley. Winning a state medal or two will drive the point home even further.

"We want to show the people that the Valley has a lot to offer and just show that we have players out here and we need to get recognized," said Sharyland's Alejandra Cantu, who made her presence known by winning the Region IV-5A championship two weeks ago. "People need to give us more credit. But still, people are like, ‘Oh, it's shocking (so many Valley players qualified for state).'

"They probably think it's a one-time deal, but it's not. We're here to stay."

Cantu was the driving force behind Sharyland's qualifying for state, leading the Lady Rattlers to a second-place finish at the regional tournament. Sharyland has had teams that dominated Valley competition in recent years, but this is the first time it has qualified for state under sixth-year coach Susan Lopez.

"It was a sense of relief, but mostly accomplishment because we have been working very, very hard the last three or four years to get to that level," Lopez said. "And even talking to the girls afterwards it was more of we knew that it was very possible so it wasn't really a surprise to us that we advanced."

Joining Cantu on the Sharyland team at state are Ana Choi, Samantha Garcia, Alejandra Valdez and Lisa Garza.

Choi, a junior, is trying to keep expectations low.

"We want to get good results at state, but since this is our first time making it past regionals I think everybody is kind of happy we've made it to state," she said. "If we put too much pressure on ourselves that will be worse. We take it as a challenge, but not expect too much."

For Espericueta, expectations are high as she enters the tournament. She qualified for state as a freshman in 2006, when she shot an 83 during the first round at Roy Kizer Golf Club in Austin. The Jimmy Clay course is one she hasn't played in a few years, but she hopes she can draw on her previous state experience.

"Any experience helps out," she said. It's just another tournament. I hope I play good.

"I haven't played the course in about three years. I think it's more difficult than the one I played freshman year at state. I think I'm a little better prepared for it."

Ancer also qualified for state as a freshman in '06 with the Sharyland boys team. Like Espericueta, he hopes to draw on that experience today.

"It will help because I already know a lot of players and how it's going to be and all of the pressure," Ancer said. "Being there is going to help, bit it's still going to be hard."

Todd Mavreles covers high school golf for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.