The fact the Northridge girls golf team gave itself plenty to celebrate Tuesday at Boomerang Links says a lot about the direction the Grizzlies’ program is headed.
But the fact junior Madison Nation and her Northridge teammates opted not to do much celebrating says even more.
Nation, junior Grace Gerbers, senior Emmarie Miles, junior Jade Hepler and the rest of the Grizzlies’ gritty program aren’t particularly easy to satisfy these days — for good reason.
The bar has been raised in a major way this spring for Northridge’s rapidly rising program.
So, even though the Grizzlies put a nice little bow on one of the most fruitful campaigns in program history — with a top 5 finish in the two-day Class 3A state championships on their home course Tuesday — Nation and her teammates desired much more.
“Our goal was to take home the trophy — I really did feel that way,” said Nation, a University High School student. “But I’m proud of the way we finished. The wind didn’t make things easy.”
Northridge head girls golf coach AJ Johnson, right, talks with Madison Nation during the Class 3A girls golf state championships at Boomerang Links in Greeley on Tuesday May 20, 2025.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Northridge’s team, which incorporates players from various Greeley schools, finished with a 36-hole, two-day, four-player team score of 528, which was 96 over par. The Grizzlies placed fourth overall behind Holy Family (476), Mullen (507) and Lutheran (519), a trio of private schools with rich athletic histories.
Northridge’s mentally tough squad — like the rest of the field — battled relentlessly windy conditions Tuesday to cling on to a top 5 finish after finishing the first day second only to Holy Family. The Tigers led throughout the tournament on route to their first girls golf state title in program history.
To casual observers, seeing Northridge riding high with a group of perennial powers might prompt a double take.
Grizzlies coach AJ Johnson, his assistant Rudi Danford and their hungry roster of players are intent on proving they belong among the state’s heavy-hitters.
“We’re on an upward trend, trying to put Greeley golf back on the map,” said Johnson, who is in his third season as Northridge’s head coach. “I’ve quietly laughed, all season long: these parochial schools that we play against — the Mullens and Holy Families — are probably looking at these state rankings and saying, ‘Who the heck is Northridge?'”
Northridge junior Jade Hepler digs the ball out of the tall grass while playing in the Class 3A girls golf state championships at Boomerang Links on Tuesday May 20, 2025.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)It may ultimately be the Grizzlies that get the last laugh.
Northridge isn’t likely to remain relatively anonymous any longer.
Three of the four players on the Grizzlies’ postseason roster will be back next year.
In fact, there were only two seniors within the entire program this spring, Miles and two-time state qualifier Leila Thompson.
As important as those seniors were, Northridge may just be scratching the surface of its budding potential with all of the returning talent it will have next spring.
“The potential is through the roof,” said Miles, a senior from University who played for Northridge all four years of high school. “They are a state contender. … I’m just so grateful for this team for the last season they have given me, and I’m just so proud of them. They’re going to do great things next year, and I’m going to keep watching.”
Northridge junior Grace Gerbers hits a birdie shot while playing in the Class 3A girls golf state championships at Boomerang Links on Tuesday May 20, 2025.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)During Miles’s freshman year three years ago, Northridge’s entire program had just six players.
Now, Johnson and Danford have a difficult time narrowing down the program’s blossoming depth into just a four-player postseason roster.
Gerbers, a junior from Greeley West, led the Grizzlies’ supremely balanced lineup this week.
She shot a 30-over-par 174 across the two rounds to place 18th among the 84-golfer field.
Gerbers had plenty of help.
Northridge’s supremely balanced team featured four golfers in the top 30. Miles (176, 19th), Nation (184, 28th) and Hepler (186, 29th) stood side-by-side with Gerbers to battle challenging conditions and an equally hardy field of competition.
If you’re look for a weak link, you better break out the magnifying glass.
Northridge senior Emmarie Miles blasts a shot while playing in the Class 3A girls golf state championships at Boomerang Links on Tuesday May 20, 2025.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Ditto if you’re looking for a clear-cut No. 1 golfer on the team.
“That keeps us all really close and really competitive,” said Hepler, who is also a University student. “We really know how to lift each other up and push through the best that we can.”
Coming into the state meet, the Grizzlies had placed in the top 2 in all but three varsity meets this spring. They recorded eight first-place finishes, in addition to three runner-up finishes, including a second-place finish in regionals a week ago.
From a year ago to this season, Gerbers said she and her teammates have amped up the amount of time they spend teeing off.
Northridge’s steady improvement isn’t just a result of the fact the Grizzlies are practicing more; how they practice is equally important.
Northridge’s players aren’t just spending their summers aimlessly hitting balls at the driving range.
They’re practicing with purpose, employing the same competitive mindset in practice that they do during a high-stakes competition like the state tournament.
“A lot of us are more focused,” Gerbers said. “Last year, we lost a bunch of seniors. So, we decided to make sure we could keep up, because we were all being put into a new role. We’ve just worked harder.”
Johnson said Northridge has 40 kids in its middle school program, a huge increase from past years.
He credits his current crop of Grizzlies varsity players for setting an example for the younger players, showing them how to compete at a high level within a supremely competitive atmosphere.
A week ago at regionals, Northridge qualified its entire team for state by scoring fewer team points than only Holy Family, which went on to win the state title Tuesday. A year ago, a quartet of Grizzlies players qualified for state as individuals, ultimately leading Northridge to an 11th-place team finish in the 4A state tournament.
The countless hours Grizzlies players have spent honing their craft has displayed dividends.
But, evident by the less-than-content looks on Northridge players’ faces Tuesday afternoon at Boomerang Links, the job isn’t exactly complete.
“We’ll all put a smile on today, but, you know, I’ve got greedy girls,” said Johnson, who also teaches physical education at Greeley West. “It’s not going to sit well with them. It’s going to take some processing time. But, they’re the ones that call me and bother me all the time with, ‘Hey, coach, can we go out and hit some balls?’ I’ll never say no to a kid that wants to get better. They’re hungry. They want it. And, this will be the fuel to continue on to what our end goal is.
“We want to win a state championship.”
A true contender
In addition to Northridge’s success in the 3A meet, Windsor placed fourth in the 4A meet at the Broadland Golf Course in Broomfield. Senior Macy Kleve was third in a tight individual title race.
For more about Kleve, Windsor and other local state tournament participants, go to greeleytribune.com and read Friday’s print edition.
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