By Chelsea Underwood |Staff Writer|
For the first time in Coyotes’ athletic program history, golf will be open to female athletes, beginning in Spring 2013.
Women’s golf has been in the process of becoming an official sport on campus for two years now and has achieved official status.
A big reason as to why a women’s golf team was added to the school’s athletic program was to offer more options for women athletes.
As a result of the Coyote women joining the CCAA as a golf program, the total amount of women golf teams bumped up to six, which is the minimum amount of teams needed to form a college conference sport, according to Coyote head golf coach Tom Mainez Jr.
Mainez will be the director overseeing the men’s and women’s golf teams but is on a search to find a potential coach for the latter as well as future female athletic recruits.
A potential golf coach was looked at, but unfortunately, she was unable to accept the offer, according to Mainez. Mainez sees that adding women’s golf would allow an increase in the participation of student female athletes due to the gender ratio here at school.
“I think it would allow the girls to experience the student athlete experience,” said Mainez. “It will add a little more explosion to the sport.”
The school has over 64 percent of female students and by providing them with another sport to compete in, we are also providing them with an opportunity to uncover hidden talents. “There might be a player out there [on campus] that is good and we just don’t know they are there,” said Mainez.
Caitlyn Smith, a student golfer here on campus has caught Mainez’s eye; he sees her as a potential recruit for the team and is looking forward to contacting her.
Mainez says he has her in mind and is also openly searching for other experienced and seasoned players who can fill his future roster. “Being a new program and coming from scratch is kind of a little challenging,” said Mainez.
It is hard to get the word out that CSUSB is going to start a women’s golf team and competing against schools who are known for their golf programs, but Mainez has his head held high for success.
Mainez wants to put together the best CCAA team possible and is looking for female athletes with past experience from either high school, junior college, or a four year university or college.
Tryouts will be hosted sometime between this summer to the beginning of the Winter 2013.
Mainez can be contacted for any updates or questions regarding the tryouts through his email address: tmainez@csusb.edu or his school office phone number 909-537-3574.
So girls, if you’re interested in taking to the greens and swinging away, contact Mainez as soon as possible to have the chance to play for CSUSB.