The Erie High School Girls Golf Team has been a dominant force in Colorado high school golf for the past three seasons, securing three consecutive state championships. However, as they begin their 2025 season, they face a new reality—none of last year’s state team members are returning. This means Head Coach Brandon Bird and his assistants, Tom Gambon and Zach Wurth, must lead a fresh group of golfers as they attempt to continue Erie’s remarkable legacy.
Assistant Coach Tom Gambon acknowledged the unique challenge ahead but expressed optimism about the team’s potential. “So the girls’ season this year is gonna be interesting, right? We’re coming off three back-to-back-to-back state championships, but we don’t have any returning members from the team that competed at State last year. It’s been an interesting last couple of years—we’ve had some really, really great golfers that helped carry us to big, commanding victories. But this year, it’s gonna be a little bit more of a challenge. That said, we have some really good golfers on this team.”
Despite the lack of state-level experience, Erie is not without talent. Gambon noted that a few returning players were close to making the championship team last season, and a couple of incoming freshmen could make an immediate impact. “I see some promise with a couple of the freshmen that are coming in and some of the returners from last year,” he said. “We had a couple girls that were on the cusp of playing for us in the state tournament last year. Logan and Hadley qualified for the U.S. Amateur tournament they were in, so we know there’s talent in this group.”
One of Erie’s primary goals this season is to qualify a full team for the state tournament, something Gambon believes is well within reach. “I’m hopeful that we can have a good showing throughout the league season, a good showing at regionals, and qualify a full team at state. I think that’s doable with this team,” he said. “It should be a good season. It’s gonna be challenging. We got a lot of work to do, but I’m excited and looking forward to it.”
While winning a fourth consecutive state championship may be a long shot, Erie has built a culture of excellence, and the Tigers aren’t ready to step aside just yet. Their journey this season will depend on the development of their young players and how well they rise to the challenge of high-level competition.
Head Coach Brandon Bird echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing that the focus remains on growth and development, regardless of the team’s championship prospects. “I think our goals are just to get better every time out,” Bird said. “That’s always kind of the main goal—just to get girls to maximize their potential. I think that goal never changes, whether you have a state championship team, a team full of kids that are developing, or a team full of beginners. That’s always the goal.”
With so many new faces, one of Bird’s biggest priorities this season is fostering relationships and guiding players through both their athletic and personal growth. “Probably just getting to know some of the newcomers and building those relationships, and then seeing how the returning players grow and mature—not only as golfers but as teenagers that are on the precipice of graduating or growing up,” he said.
While a fourth straight championship may not be expected, Erie’s mindset remains the same: work hard, improve with each competition, and see where the season takes them. The Tigers may be underdogs for the first time in years, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the fight.
