Warren’s Emma Aviles (left) putts the ball as Downey’s Nahla Ramos (right) lines up her putt as they play in their non-league Girls Golf match at the Rio Hondo Golf Course in Downey. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

DOWNEY – The record may show that the Downey Girls Golf team defeated Warren twice this season in nonleague action. However, both teams support a closeness and significant bond on the course.

In the most recent match (Thursday September 10), they played alongside each other in three foursomes for nine holes and one would have never known of the fierce rivalry between the schools.

Golf, of course, does not have the fans that yell and scream on every play and say, ‘we’re number one’. That is left to football, basketball and all the other crowd supported sports.

Both coaches show an utmost respect for each other and their respective players.

Downey coach Jason Bean and newly named Warren coach Jimmy Shull have a great connection with their team.

Bean, who graduated from LB Jordan (1990) and currently is an English teacher at Downey since 2004, said of his connection with his team away from the classroom. “Getting to know the kids a different way you’re in a class trying to get them through books and stuff, they may not love it, but when you’re a coach it’s something they want to do.

“They’re competing to be there and it’s a very different relationship. They are a lot more open to your advice.

“In high school it’s for the love of the sport, it’s about learning teamwork and being a part of a group.”

Bean has been the girls coach since 2010 and the boys coach since 2016.

Shull, who was hired in the middle of the summer this year, said of his girls, “More than anything, this is just a really enjoyable group to coach,” he said. “They genuinely like one another, and that shows every day. What has probably surprised me most in my first year is how much they’ve helped me.”

“Whether it’s reminding me about something I need to do, helping me figure out how things work, or putting up with me not ordering uniforms on time or not scheduling enough matches for their level of talent, they’ve guided me through being a new coach just as much as I’ve coached them. I couldn’t have asked for a better group for my first year.”

Downey 266, Warren 281

In the latest match between the two schools at the Rio Hondo Golf Course, which is the home course for both schools, Downey and Warren were neck and neck midway through the 9-hole match until the final few holes when Downey pulled away with the 15-stroke win.

In addition, the girls were playing in a 97 degree heat throughout the day.

Leading the way for both teams was their number 1’s, sophomore Nahla Ysabelle Ramos of Downey with a team high 44 and senior Emma Aviles of Warren also with a team high 44.

Ysabelle Ramos highlighted her round with three pars and a birdie, while Aviles had three pars and an eagle.

After the third hole, both Aviles and Ramos were neck and neck, with Aviles shooting an even par 13. Her eagle on the third 409-yard, par 5 gave her the 2-stroke edge, while Ramos had a 1-over par 14.

Aviles finished with three pars on the last six holes for the Bears, while Ramos had two pars in the last three holes for the Vikings.

The remaining Downey scores were: Jessica Gutierrez, 54; Melina Ifantis, 56; Camila Castaneda, 56; Olivia Muggleton, 56 and Shelby Solis, 57.

The remaining Warren scores were: Kara Orozco, 53; Rebecca Hernandez, 60; Lauren Nowowiejski, 61; Sophia Nunez, 63 and Melody Guillen, 65.

Downey also defeated Warren in the first meeting on August 27 with a close 259-264 win.

“I’m really happy, I’m really proud,” said Bean, of the first time beating Warren. “It’s been since 2022 since the last time the girls have beat them.

“I’m really proud of the girls and I’m looking forward to league. But, I was that we weren’t in the same league as Warren this season.”

“I’m 0 for 2 in my first year against Warren,” said Shull, sadly.

Warren lost its first Gateway League match Wednesday (Sept. 16). The Bears leading scorer was senior Emma Aviles with a 44.

Downey Girls Golf

“Golf at Downey High School is about taking students with little to no experience and helping them to appreciate and enjoy the game of golf,” said Bean. “I rarely get students with any experience playing golf competitively, but most of the schools around us are in the same situation so we are always competitive in our league.

Bean talks of his six varsity players:

1. Nahla Ramos, sophomore—Nahla is our co-captain this year. She is also our MVP from last year and our individual league champion from last year. She is an excellent student and is ambitious to return to the CIF-SS Individual tournament so that she can improve upon her score from last year. I am very excited to watch her to continue to improve.

2. Shelby Solis, junior—This is Shelby’s third year on varsity. Last year, she came on strong at the end of the season and was our most impactful player to help us move out of last place. We gave her our Most Improved Player award for last season, and she is continuing to play well as she is currently our second best player by average. (you interviewed her at the end of the last match)

3. Camila Castaneda, senior—Cami has played varsity for four years. She’s ambitious and athletic and has been an important part of this team’s growth not only in terms of playing, but also a positive and competitive spirit that has spread through this team.

4. Olivia Muggleton, sophomore—Olivia came in last year as a freshman and won a varsity spot over several returning players. She worked hard on her game over the summer and has improved tremendously. Although she is currently ranked fourth on the team, her current average is only half a stroke behind Shelby, our current number 2. The competition between Shelby, Cami, and Olivia is at the heart of our current success.

5. Melina Ifantis, senior—Melina is our other co-captain, and she runs our team Instagram. She’s a great communicator not only with her teammates, but also with me. She and Cami have an infectious sense of fun and together, they do a great job of keeping the team in a fun and light mood.

6. Jessica Gutierrez, junior—Jess is our current number six. She has been battling it out with two other players for the last varsity spot, and over the last week, she has put together a couple of performances that have separated her from the other two.

2026 results to date (Wednesday Sept. 16)

Downey (6-1 overall, 1-0 Mid Cities League)

8/25 – Gahr 234, Downey 238

8/27 – Downey 259, Warren 264

9/1 – Downey 259, LB Poly 284

9/3 – Downey 262, LB Poly 298

9/8 – Downey 238, Gahr 264

9/10 – Downey 266, Warren 281

9/14 – Downey 266, Mayfair 345

Downey was scheduled to play against Santa Fe HS in a Mid Cities League match Thursday (Sept. 17) at Rio Hondo GC. (Results not available due to press deadline)

Bean has been the girls coach since 2010 and the boys coach since 2016.

Warren Girls Golf

Warren started the 2026-27 season with a new first-year coach (Shull) for both programs – boys and girls. However, he is a top golfer who plays a little better than scratch and has played the game since he was a little boy. In addition, he is the defending Rio Hondo Golf Club champion and a Warren graduate (2001). He played both baseball and basketball at Warren.

“Two of my basketball coaches were Josh Buell and Eric Watts, who later coached the golf program,” Shull said. “When they retired from coaching golf, they asked me to take over, so this is my first year as head coach.”

His very first match was an emotional day for Shull as he went up against rival Downey and his father, Jim, who is also a Warren graduate in 1972, was in attendance and had a medical issue halfway through the match. “He is perfectly healthy now,” added Jimmy Shull.

“Coming into the job, I was a little bit of a fish out of water,” added Shull. “I wasn’t sure exactly what would be expected of me or what coaching at this level would entail. The girls immediately made me feel comfortable. They were welcoming from day one and, in a lot of ways, started teaching me what I needed to know.

“I was fortunate to inherit an experienced senior group along with some newer players who have added a lot to the team,” added Shull.

Here are some highlights about the players:

Lauren Nowowiejski, senior - Lauren is what I would call the mother of the team. Everyone wants to be in Lauren’s foursome. She’s a very good golfer with a left-handed swing, but what really stands out is her personality. She’s always smiling, always composed, and is really the moral compass of our team.

Emma Aviles, senior - Emma is our No. 1 golfer and an exceptional athlete. She’s also the best high jumper Warren has had in roughly 20 years. She generally hovers around par, is very long off the tee, extremely competitive, and hopes to play Division I golf. Her athletic ability is pretty remarkable.

Kara Orozco, senior - Kara is another senior and a left-handed golfer. She’s been working her way back from a knee problem. She isn’t the longest player on the team, but she keeps the ball down the middle and is incredibly good from 100 yards and in. She competes around our No. 2 or No. 3 position with Lauren. Kara is always happy, always working hard, and simply a pleasure to have around.

Melody Aguilar, senior - Melody is the spark plug of the team. She’s goofy, keeps everybody laughing, and brings a lot of personality to the group. She can be a little hard on herself when she isn’t playing the way she wants, but somehow she’s still the one making everyone else laugh. She’s our No. 4 golfer and, when she has the driver going, can hit it a long way.

Rebecca Hernandez, senior - Rebecca is another returning senior. She plays alongside Emma in our first group because she can play with anybody and is comfortable handling the pressure that comes with that position. She’s quiet, composed, and extremely coachable—the type of player who makes a coach’s job very easy.

Sophia Nunez, senior - Sophia is a senior who only picked up golf this summer, but she has already earned herself the sixth spot in our varsity lineup. She’s naturally athletic and hits the ball both long and straight. What really impresses me, though, is what she’s doing away from the golf course. She’s also running cross country, so she’ll wake up around 5:00 in the morning and run five or seven miles with the cross-country team, compete for them during the week, and then come out after school and play golf until sundown. She’s essentially competing in two sports simultaneously and has worked incredibly hard to earn her place on the team.

Madeline Klett, freshman – Madeline is a complete goofball—in the best possible way. She also just picked up golf this summer and is competing for that final varsity spot. Having someone so much younger has added a really fun dynamic to a senior-heavy team. The older girls look after her, while she gets to be the goofy little kid of the group. Early in the season, we needed her to step into a big varsity tournament despite being understandably uncomfortable and inexperienced. She toughed it out and did a great job.

Warren 2026 results to date (September 16).

8/27 - Downey 259, Warren 264

9/10 – Downey 266, Warren 281

9/16 – Cerritos 238, Warren 277

Warren (0-3 overall, 0-1 Gateway League).

Warren Boys Golf mini preview

“On the boys’ side, we’re expecting to be extremely deep this season at both the varsity and JV levels,” said Shull, of next season’s boys team. “Returning league champion Gabriel Marquez will lead the group, and we have more than six players capable of shooting around par or better who will be battling for varsity spots. That means our JV team will also be filled with some very talented golfers. We’re fortunate to have that kind of depth in the program right now.”

What they said:

Nahla Ramos, Downey SO: “I hope to do the same this year and defend my title (’25 League Champ). I just need to work harder and practice more. I believe anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

I did not my best (Thursday), but I’m happy that I persevered through the last three holes and ended up with a decent score (44).”

Shelby Solis, Downey junior: “I’m very proud of my team members. We all count on each other, but we also have to count on ourselves.

I think we (Coach Bean) connected a lot. I trust him a lot. We just love Mr. Bean and he always encourages us.

“I’m excited to get into league.”

Emma Aviles, Warren SR: “Four years at Warren, I’m really proud of myself that I got that title (All League) in my high school golf career. I’m working harder and disciplining myself practicing.

I really want to play in college.

Coach Shull is amazing. It’s my first year with him and he’s been so great.

Downey-Warren means a lot to me. It’s exciting.”

Lauren Nowowiejski, Warren SR: “Coach Vince (Quintero) gave me the name ‘mom’ because I acted like the mom of the group.

(Warren-Downey) is still a big deal for us as players and definitely there’s bragging rights.

I still played through the heat (Thursday).

It’s great to be part of a team and also working for yourself and be a better athlete.”

Note – Quintero is a 2022 graduate of Warren.

Sophia Nunez, Warren SR: “I’ve been doing cross country and distance track. This year is my first and last year playing golf. I tried out and made it on the spot.

Between golf and running, they are completely opposite. I have a big gap between the two because running is in the morning

Since I’m having a good time at this sport and cross country and track, I feel like I have a good bond with my friends.”

Downey, Warren find common ground on the green