Gators on verge of U.S. record

Adam Candee

Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 | 10:18 a.m.

Nick Garritano may be a relative newcomer to the Green Valley girls golf program, but the Gators coach knows plenty about the team's 128-match winning streak.

Come late Tuesday afternoon, the Gators hope to be celebrating their national record-breaking 129th consecutive dual-match victory. Green Valley has not lost a dual match since 1992.

"It's just unbelievable that it's here," Garritano said.

Green Valley will take on Coronado at Legacy with that lofty goal within its reach. With a win over a struggling Coronado squad, the Gators will top the record set by Xavier Prep of Phoenix, which recorded 128 straight dual-match victories from 1985-1996.

Garritano expects his girls to have a bit of a shaky grip on their clubs Tuesday.

"They'll be nervous," Garritano said. "Obviously, that's just the nature. They've known it's coming. It's something they've been working for."

It is something that Green Valley programs have been working for over the past decade. Talking about the foundation years in the late 1990s, Garritano speaks of a fearless group of players.

"Basically, they'd take on anyone and everyone that would ever challenge them," Garritano said.

In recent years, though, the Gators have admittedly caught a few breaks to help keep the streak alive. Green Valley did not face state champion Durango last year, and Garritano recalls a well-timed lightning storm wiping out a match against tough Bishop Gorman two years ago.

"There's no beating around the bush," Garritano said. "We've been fortunate with the schedule the past couple of years ... people might want to call it sugar coating."

The Gators sport a 7-0 mark this season, including a 3-0 record in the Sunrise Division's Southeast region. Green Valley has only faced one opponent with a winning record this season, and the Gators have not played a match in almost three weeks.