While it’s hard to compete for the spotlight with flagship sports like football, basketball and baseball; the Saint Monica boys golf unit has taken shine and then some with its exploits on the course.
On March 18, the boys team shot a personal best 192 against Salesian, a mark unmatched by most programs in the nation, let alone the area. The score is the culmination of an accelerated rise for the program under the leadership of PGA certified professional Charles Womack, who took over at Saint Monica during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Womack stated that it was “a little overwhelming” taking over during the pandemic period, having to simultaneously coach the boys and girls’ golf units. When Womack first arrived on campus, only three boys tried out for the team, with both the roster’s size and skill blossoming quickly.
“I recruited some of these kids … competing and winning and constantly keep winning, that’s how these other kids get attracted to this school … our program is growing really, really well,” Womack said.
Winning has become a habit for the Mariners, who were victorious in 13 of 14 contests last year, and have continued that momentum into this spring, including the top-shelf performance against Salesian. One of those who became interested was sophomore Joe Bohan, affectionately called “Hollywood Joe,” who transferred to the squad from Massachusetts in 2023.
“I think there’s a lot of pushing each other, I think [our coaches are] very heavy on, even if I’m playing well, how do I bring somebody with me?,” Bohan said.
The constant improvement is the core of the team, shaking off each round with an eye toward the future, even if that round brought another Mariners victory.
“We got some really phenomenal kids really putting in the work,” Womack said. “They’re not afraid [to work] after our best round ever. Everybody’s continued wanting to work … I gotta force them to [leave] when it’s time to leave the golf course … if we’re outworking [opponents], we’re not gonna be beaten. That’s our motto, we fear nothing.”
While working toward their goals is important, the Mariners also inject some day-to-day fun, building camaraderie alongside their skills. The team-building infatuated Daniel Cott, who also works as a chef at Saint Monica, to become an assistant this spring.
“The future of golf is in great hands,” Cott said. “They’re all competitors, every single one of them, they love to compete, they love to hold each other accountable. But also, with any group of [sports], it’s finding that balance between competitiveness and that lighthearted shenanigans. And these boys have the perfect mix.”
Mixing business with pleasure continues to attract the future of the program, including a strong freshman crop.
“Luckily [we] have good chemistry, everybody’s really social with each other, friendly, and that’s what [makes] it so easy to play better,” said freshman Dominic Saienni. “When you are comfortable in [your] situation, you’re going to play so much better.”
The combination of chemistry and on-course skill has shifted the landscape of Saint Monica sports, pushing golf to the forefront of Mariner life and lessening the barrier of entry to the sport.
Credit: Thomas Leffler
“Golf is no longer the old school, snooty, country club-only sport, golf is really becoming a lot more accessible to people that might not have had access to that before, so to get to be a part of that, showing the next generation that it’s fun to go out there and win … that’s amazing,” Cott said.
Saint Monica Sports Scores
Saint Monica Baseball
Tuesday, March 19: Mariners vs Animo Leadership, Mariners win 12-0
Friday, March 22: Mariners vs Rolling Hills Prep, Mariners win 3-2
Mariners Record: 8-4 (3-2 Camino Real League) Next Game: Tuesday vs Providence, 3:15pm.
Saint Monica Softball
Monday, March 18: Lady Mariners at Santa Monica, Santa Monica win 8-1
Batting: Bella Lopez: 0-2, 2 K. Savanna Hernandez: 1-3. Sophia Lopez: 0-2, 2 K. Bella Urbina: 0-3, 2 K. Bella Hernandez: 1-2, R, BB, K. Ali Vogler: 1-3, K. Katrina Olmedo: 0-3, K, FC, Dylan Smith: 0-3. Megan Garcia: 0-3, K
Pitching: Katrina Olmedo: 3.2 IP, L, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 11.45 ERA. Bella Urbina: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 0.00 ERA
Wednesday, March 20: Lady Mariners vs Harvard-Westlake, Harvard-Westlake win 12-2
Batting/Baserunning: Bella Lopez: 1-3, K. Savanna Hernandez: 1-4, SB. Bella Urbina: 2-3, K. Bella Hernandez: 1-3, 3B, RBI. Ali Vogler: 1-3, 2B. Katrina Olmedo: 1-2, BB. Dylan Smith: 1-4, R, K. Annie Lu Rios: 0-2, BB. Megan Garcia: 1-2, R, BB
Pitching: Bella Urbina: 4.2 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 12.00 ERA. Bella Lopez: 2.1 IP, L, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Thursday, March 21: Lady Mariners at La Salle, Lady Mariners win 16-2
Batting/Baserunning: Bella Lopez: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Savanna Hernandez: 2-4, 2B, 3 R, BB, SB. Bella Urbina: 0-2, R, RBI, 2 BB. Bella Hernandez: 1-4, R, HBP. Ali Vogler: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Katrina Olmedo: 1-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K, HBP. Dylan Smith: 4-4, 4 R, 4 RBI, BB. Annie Lu Rios: 0-3, R, RBI, BB, K. Megan Garcia: 0-1, 2 R, 3 BB
Pitching: Bella Urbina: 5.0 IP, W, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1.40 ERA
Lady Mariners Record: 4-7-1 (2-3-1 Camino Real League) Next Game: Tuesday vs Ramona Convent, 3pm.
Saint Monica Boys Volleyball
Tuesday, March 19: Mariners at Bishop Amat, Bishop Amat win 3-1
Austin Keough (Freshman): 7 Kills. Sam Zimmermann (Junior): 38 Assists. Cooper North (Senior): 6 Kills. Garrett Robertson (Sophomore): 17 Kills, 1 Ace. Ivie O’Brien (Sophomore): 7 Kills, 3 Aces. Christian Gonzalez (Junior): 1 Kill
Thursday, March 21: Mariners at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, Mariners win 3-0
Austin Keough (Freshman): 9 Kills, 6 Aces. Juliam Dowd (Sophomore): 6 Aces, 1 Assist. Sam Zimmermann (Junior): 1 Ace, 27 Assists. Cooper North (Senior): 11 Kills, 1 Ace. Garrett Robertson (Sophomore): 5 Kills, 4 Aces, 1 Assist. Ivie O’Brien (Sophomore): 6 Kills, 2 Aces
Friday, March 22: Mariners at University High, University High win 3-1
Mariners Record: 9-12 (5-1 Camino Real League), Next Game: Tuesday vs Salesian, 5pm.
Saint Monica Boys and Girls Track and Field
Wednesday, March 20: Camino Real League Meet at St. Paul High School
Mens 100 Meter Varsity Finals: 2- Mason Collier (Junior), 11.51 seconds. 11- DeQuan Carter (Freshman), 11.87 seconds. 14- Jack Milligan (Sophomore), 11.90 seconds
Mens 100 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 17- Jonathan Uomoto (Sophomore), 13.26 seconds. 25- Jack Barry (Freshman), 14.24 seconds. 26- Jacob Mikhail (Freshman), 14.34 seconds
Mens 200 Meter Varsity Finals: 4- DeQuan Carter (Freshman), 24.23 seconds. 13- Isaac Nuno (Senior), 25.43 seconds. 23- Dylan Valenzo (Sophomore), 26.37 seconds
Mens 200 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 15- Jonathan Uomoto (Sophomore), 27.43 seconds. 19- Douglas Guevara Jr. (Freshman), 27.76 seconds. 25- Jack Barry (Freshman), 29.91 seconds
Mens 400 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 5- Kohaku Inatsugi (Freshman), 1:00.99. 17- Gregory Jonah Baumann (Freshman), 1:08.82
Mens 800 Meter Varsity Finals: 6- Jack Milligan (Sophomore), 2:17.41
Mens 800 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 17- Gregory Jonah Baumann (Freshman), 3:00.42
Mens 1,600 Meter Varsity Finals: 19- Nicco Osti (Junior), 5:35.37
Mens 3,200 Meter Varsity Finals: 8- Nicco Osti (Junior), 12:09.81
Mens 110 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 2- Anav Oommen (Senior), 19.53 seconds. 7- Santiago Arroyo (Senior), 25.72 seconds
Mens 300 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 3- Anav Oommen (Senior), 48.56 seconds. 4- Jesse Liebman (Junior), 48.94 seconds
Mens 4×100 Meter Relay Varsity Finals: 4- Jack Milligan (Sophomore), Dylan Valenzo (Sophomore), Issac Nuno (Senior), DeQuan Carter (Freshman); 46.66 seconds
Mens Shot Put Varsity Finals: 12- Noah Soriano (Sophomore), 30-11.00. 17- Alex Brick (Freshman), 29-03.00. 24- Dino Hidalgo (Sophomore), 23-10.00
Mens Discus Varsity Finals: 14- Douglas Guevara Jr. (Freshman), 79-00. 19- Dino Hidalgo (Sophomore), 71-02. 21- Noah Soriano (Sophomore), 68-10
Womens 100 Meter Varsity Finals: 2- Nina Meraz (Junior), 13.59 seconds. 3- Serenity Furbert (Senior), 13.60 seconds
Womens 100 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 1- Kaylee Mccruel (Junior), 14.46 seconds. 3- Gabrielle Deelo (Sophomore), 15.08 seconds
Womens 200 Meter Varsity Finals: 3- Nina Meraz (Junior), 28.89 seconds. 4- Serenity Furbert (Senior), 28.94 seconds
Womens 200 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 2- Malia Bateman (Freshman), 31.62 seconds. 3- Kaylee Mccruel (Junior), 32.20 seconds
Womens 400 Meter Varsity Finals: 3- Bridgit Madariaga (Junior), 1:09.94. 7- Vivian Boubion (Sophomore), 1:17.88. 8- Andrea Pollicarpo (Junior), 1:22.15
Womens 400 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 4- Malia Bateman (Freshman), 1:18.67. 5- Chiara Falchi Mure (Junior), 1:30.74. 6- Trinity Norooz (Junior), 1:38.59
Womens 800 Meter Varsity Finals: 7- Andrea Pollicarpo (Junior), 3:18.50
Womens 800 Meter Junior Varsity Finals: 6- Jackie Maalouf (Senior), 3:55.38
Womens 1,600 Meter Varsity Finals: 11- Bridgit Madariaga (Junior), 6:53.99. 16- Andrea Pollicarpo (Junior), 7:13.43
Womens 100 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 3- Macula Story (Junior), 24.47 seconds
Womens 300 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 2- Bridgit Madariaga (Junior), 57.54 seconds. 3- Macula Story (Junior), 1:02.91. 6- Chiara Falchi Mure (Junior), 1:11.06
Womens 300 Meter Hurdles Junior Varsity Finals: 1- Vivian Boubion (Sophomore), 1:10.51
Womens Shot Put Varsity Finals: 10- Lily Rubio (Senior), 21-04.00
Womens Shot Put Junior Varsity Finals: 3- Trinity Norooz (Junior), 18-06.50
Womens Discus Varsity Finals: 7- Lily Rubio (Senior), 65-06
Womens Long Jump Varsity Finals: 5- Nina Meraz (Junior), 12-08.00
Saturday, March 23: Santa Monica Invitational
Mens 100 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 15- Jonathan Uomoto (Sophomore), 13.66 seconds. 20- Kohaku Inatsugi (Freshman), 13.85 seconds. 22- Jack Barry (Freshman), 14.54 seconds
Mens 400 Meter Varsity Finals: 24- Dylan Valenzo (Sophomore), 1:01.21. 27- Douglas Guevara Jr. (Freshman), 1:02.46. 30- Jack Barry (Freshman), 1:08.47
Mens 400 Meter Freshman/Sophomore finals: 13- Jonathan Uomoto (Sophomore), 1:03.45. 21- Kohaku Inatsugi (Freshman), 1:09.95. 22- Gregory Jonah Baumann (Freshman), 1:10.20
Mens 800 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 22- Gregory Jonah Baumann (Freshman), 2:56.73
Mens 1,600 Meter Varsity Finals: 25- Nicco Osti (Junior), 5:29.23
Mens 4×100 Meter Relay Varsity Finals: 4- Jack Milligan (Sophomore), Dylan Valenzo (Sophomore), Isaac Nuno (Senior), Mason Collier (Junior); 47.30 seconds
Mens Shot Put (10 lb) Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 2- Noah Soriano (Sophomore), 31-08.00. 3- Douglas Guevara Jr. (Freshman), 30-08.00. 5- Dino Hidalgo (Sophomore), 27-04.00
Mens Long Jump Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 8- Dylan Valenzo (Sophomore), 13-08.50
Womens 100 Meter Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 9- Malia Bateman (Freshman), 14.92 seconds
Womens 400 Meter Varsity Finals: 12- Bridgit Madariaga (Junior), 1:09.73
Womens 400 Meters Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 18- Malia Bateman (Freshman), 1:17.41
Womens 1,600 Meter Varsity Finals: 12- Ellie Perkins (Junior), 7:29.37. 13- Andrea Pollicarpo (Junior), 7:31.10
Womens 300 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 4- Bridgit Madariaga (Junior), 56.80 seconds
thomas@smdp.com