Columnist Dean Juipe: Record win left Gators shivering

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

In the end, the record fell without a trace of nervousness and only the slightest hint of anxiety. But who wouldn't be tense for a moment or two when your opponent takes the ominous form of Mother Nature?

Coronado High was listed as the Tuesday afternoon opposition for the girls golf team from Green Valley High, but within a very few holes it was apparent a stiff and cold wind accompanied by dark clouds was a greater threat to the Gators. In need of a victory for a national record 129 consecutive dual-match wins, Green Valley put its game in overdrive and raced home ahead of the meandering storm to the relief of friend and foe alike who were gathered at the Legacy.

Consider it a day of contrasts, with sunshine and smiles in abundance as the round began before some 50 of the Gators' classmates, teachers and parents. Comments such as "play well" and "have fun" fed a calm and confident atmosphere, with Green Valley having the luxury of going for the record on its home course and against a team it knew it could handle with ease.

The Gators did not disappoint, even if the weatherman did. "Frozen Fury" may be the slogan for the NHL exhibition game that will be played Saturday at the MGM, but frozen fury is what the Green Valley folks would have been feeling had the match with Coronado been postponed or canceled.

Now that they've thawed, credit the Gators with stepping up to the occasion and handling the pressure with a series of high fives and remarkable shots. These are girls who have been both publicly lauded and, in some cases, privately maligned, yet they're pretty darn good.

Those who take exception to Green Valley setting a national record do so as the result of a scheduling oddity that is outside of its control, one that prevents the Gators from playing dual matches with every team in town. Durango, for instance, has won the last two state championships but the Trailblazers and Gators do not meet head to head in the regular season.

"I know we're one of the best teams in the city," said Green Valley coach Nick Garritano, which is an odd thing for someone to say about a team that has just won 129 straight. After all, given that the Gators now hold a national record he could have used the occasion for a little uncontrolled boasting.

But Garritano, old football player that he is, knows this record has a reverse quality to it. Stories about the high-flying Gators are apt to be passed among their future opponents, which will only make extending their record that much more difficult.

Yet on this particular day, Garritano assessed the situation as the afternoon began and said "This is great, isn't it?" History was about to be made, enthusiasm was all around and his girls came out of the blocks playing with poise and determination.

It was impressive and would be impressive no matter the quality of the teams on Green Valley's schedule. Imagine going 10 years without a loss in such a skill-based endeavor.

When Garritano said "Anytime you hear of a record like this you know there's some luck involved" he was both polite and refreshing.

Truth is, luck is but an asterisk and there won't be an asterisk attached when the record book is rewritten to reflect this amazing achievement.