Socorro’s Lady Warriors completed a threepeat as they won the 2023 Class 3A girls state golfing title.
Russell Huffman | El Defensor Chieftain photos

Socorro’s golfing threepeat is complete after the Lady Warriors ran away with the Class 3A state title with a two-day score of 795. Senior Tivonne Anaya claimed the individual state crown at Canyon Club at Four Hills on May 8-9.

Anaya’s big moment came at just the right time after she struggled at times this season after announcing she was committing to play golf at the University of the Southwest. After shooting a first-day score of 91 and leading by six strokes, it became a matter of the fox outrunning the hounds who were on her heels.

On Wednesday, at the national letter of intent signing for teammate Ally Martinez, Anaya reflected on her win.

“It hit me this morning (that she was the state champion). Knowing that I am this new champ and we got to threepeat is a pretty good feeling. The threepeat was really exciting,” Anaya said.

Individual girls state champion Tivonne Anaya tees off.

At Anaya’s signing, head girls coach Kristen Griego pointed out Anaya’s drive.

“Tivonne is typically a top-three finisher. She is wonderful. She has a fight to be better, which is all you can ask for as a coach, and she’s always wanting to improve and do her best,” Griego said.

That desire to improve led to a complete overhaul of Anaya’s swing, and while she struggled at times, she continued to seek the hardened edge shown when she fired a second-day score that matched her 91 on the first day.

Anaya’s hard work hasn’t been lost on her coach, who has been there for the ups and downs since her golfer was an eighth grader.

“She’s come a long way as a golfer and student. I think it was just kind of full circle for her, something she’s really been working toward,” Griego said. “At the beginning of the year, we fill out goals sheets, and her main goal was to win the state championship as a team, but also for herself. I think it’s a nice cherry on top for her high school career and now moving on to college.”

All four of the Lady Warriors’ golfers had top 10 finishes, with Ariana Crespin coming in fourth with a two-day total of 200. Natasha Apodaca was sixth with a 207, and Ally Martinez was eighth after shooting a 209.

Socorro’s 795 team score was well in front of second place Texico’s 883 and third place Saint Michael’s 925.

The Socorro Warriors golf team is the 2023 Class 3A boys runner-up.

Warriors place second

Nobody had a more electrifying second day than the Warriors’ Isaiah Silva, whose 77 was 11 strokes better than his first. He earned him a fifth place finish in the boys tournament and pushed Socorro to a runner-up finish.

Isaiah Silva had the most significant turnaround as he fired the lowest round of the second day with a score of 77 and an 11-stroke improvement that gave him a tie for fifth place overall.

Luther Richardson’s two-day total of 91-87 equaled 178, and it was a top-10 finish. Robinson Ford’s 91-90-181 was good enough for 14th and Andrew Handrich’s 91-95-186 put him in the top 20 players.

Silva’s 11-strike improvement made up most of the Warriors’ second day surge. After the first day, Socorro’s 361 team total improved with a 349 that was a runner-up 710 behind Mesilla Valley’s 633 and two strokes better than Clovis Christian’s 712.

Russell Huffman | Assistant Editor