Bonanza off with a bang

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 9:26 a.m.

They're a combined 17-over-par this season and are the biggest reason Bonanza's off to an 8-1 start to Southwest League play in boys' golf.

Defending state medalist Aaron Slonim has been leading the way in the Southwest, with an 8-over-par year so far.

But nipping at his heels is sophomore Chris Kalbfleisch, one stroke back of Slonim for the season as golf heads down the putting green for 2005.

Kalbfleisch finished tied for 15th at last year's state tournament, which Bonanza won by seven strokes.

"He's got a great personality for golf, he doesn't have real big mood swings, he's just a real even-keel kid," Bengals coach Dan Wieser said. "When he's smiling, that's when he's playing pretty decent."

Wieser's also pleased with his 3-6 golfers, who he said have made strides this season.

Kevin Collignon, a freshman, had one of the Bengals' best performances this year, shooting 34 at Canyon Gate on April 18.

"He's just doing real well," Wieser said. "I think his average is 41, but it's deceptive. He had a 50 one day but his last three matches he shot a 34, a 35 and a 37. He's playing real, real well. You'd never think he was a freshman."

Bonanza plays Coronado at Anthem this afternoon.

Five Centennial varsity coaches have taken jobs at the new Arbor View High School, about halfway between Centennial and Shadow Ridge near the Gilcrease Orchard.

The list includes soccer coaches Rick Kazee and Jay Howard, volleyball coaches Roger Brown and David Fish and boys' track coach Sam Richardson.

Kazee, who will also be Arbor View's athletic director when the school opens this fall, said many teachers and coaches are headed to the new school to join principal Pat Hayden.

"We're bringing back some Cheyenne people from back in the old days," Kazee said. "We were at Cheyenne and left when Centennial opened or when Shadow Ridge opened, and we're all kind of coming back together."

Hayden was a principal at Cheyenne before opening Centennial, Kazee said.

The Cheyenne pipeline continues with former Desert Shield athletic director Larry Johnson joining Arbor View's staff in a teaching role while he works on taking administrative classes. Former Cheyenne football assistant Russ Malloy will serve as Arbor View's football coach, and former Desert Shield basketball assistant John Teran will be the head boys' basketball coach at the new school.

Kazee also found out last week that his school will be the second in Clark County to get artificial turf on its football field.

"We're looking to move a lot of stuff around the side ... so we can spread it out and play soccer on it on a more regulation-sized field," he said. "My ultimate personal dream would be to host at least regional finals and get it off Bettye Wilson, where it's just another afternoon event."

Unfortunately for the Bengals, a repeat performance will have to happen under new leadership.

Jay Weinman, who took Bonanza to its first ever home playoff win in his first season as head coach, will sit out next season while he recovers from back injuries he suffered after he fell while trimming trees.

"I don't want to get on the football field and be bouncing around," Weinman said. "I don't want to get in their way, I'll keep my nose out of it."

Maybe Bonanza could bring in Dave Snyder Jr., whose tenure as head football coach at Canyon Springs ended shortly after new principal Ronan Matthew arrived.

Matt Jenkins, the former defensive coordinator at Cheyenne, was hired as the Pioneers' new football coach.