TOPEKA, Kan. — One of the sweetest swings in Kansas will not be featured in the high school state tournament this year. Meet Mateo Garcia, Kansas’ best junior varsity golfer.
The foreign exchange student has been enjoying his life at Hayden High School in Topeka, where the senior will soon be wrapping up his studies and graduating in a few weeks.
“The education here is way better and gives me a better chance at life,” Garcia said. “They put more effort in classes here and you learn more, there’s so many more chances in life.”
Garcia hails from León, Mexico, about four hours northwest of Mexico City. Education is important to Garcia, and he saw an exchange program as a chance to improve. This is Garcia’s second year in Topeka. Ed Lee, who is also a science teacher at Hayden, has been Garcia’s host family since he arrived in Kansas’ capital in 2024.
When Garcia first came to America, he spoke very little English. It was a true blind spot for him and a major reason he wanted to study at an American school. But his main love is on the golf course.
The ball flies off his driver like a bullet, and Garcia’s touch around the green is sublime. His chipping is elite, which Garcia says makes up for the worst part of his game: putting. During his first high school season, Garcia was a mainstay on the varsity roster. He helped the Hayden Wildcats finish runner-up in Kansas Class 4A. He also finished in a tie for 29th place in the final tournament of the year.
The 2025 state tournament would be Garcia’s final varsity start.
Hayden senior Mateo Garcia walks out from the putting green to begin a practice round at Western Hills Golf Course on April 29, 2026.
According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association, Garcia cannot to play varsity sports this year. The little-used regulation has forced Garcia to play on the junior varsity team. Rule 18, Article 12, Section B states that foreign exchange students can not be eligible for varsity activities for a second year.
“Should a student from a foreign country on an F-1 or J-1 Visa attend a member school as the result of participation in a foreign exchange academic program for a second academic year, regardless of the length of attendance in the first academic year, that student shall, for purposes of this rule, be treated as all other students who change schools. If there is not an accompanying move on the part of the students’ parents, the student will be ineligible for interschool extracurricular activities for one calendar year for grades 9-12, eighteen weeks for grades 7-8, beginning with the first day of his or her attendance.”
It’s a rule that is rarely brought into question, KSHSAA’s Assistant Executive Director Jeremy Holaday said. It’s put into effect to avoid consistent overseas recruiting.
“Ultimately, some fear that potentially you are getting a ton of foreign exchange students to take the place of other kids,” Holaday said. “It’s rare enough that if it’s something our schools felt like needed to change, we would have someone propose a change.”
Hayden senior Mateo Garcia finishes his drive off hole 11 at Western Hills Golf Course on April 29, 2026.
Garcia enjoyed his first year at Hayden so much that he wanted to return for his final high school season. Once he was settled last fall, Garcia and Lee were introduced to this KSHSAA law.
“Most foreign exchange kids do not play varsity sports, so it’s never an issue,” Lee said. “It’s a rare thing and an odd occurrence.”
Lee said it hurt Garcia’s spirit when he realized that he couldn’t play varsity golf. Since Garcia has been in Topeka, his goal has been to play golf at the next level via a college scholarship. Without varsity golf, the chances of college coaches discovering him diminished.
“I was a little bit upset,” Garcia said. “It’s KSHSAA’s rules, so there is nothing that I can do. I was really excited because I thought I could play varsity this year. When they told me that I couldn’t play varsity, I was kind of sad.”
Hayden senior Mateo Garcia chips up to the green of hole 11 at Western Hills Golf Course on April 29, 2026.
Despite playing junior varsity, Hayden’s varsity squad has worked hard to keep Garcia involved and not isolated. Throughout the season, Garcia has been practicing with Hayden’s top players in Carter Compton and Austin Bean.
“As a team, it hurts; he’s one of our better golfers,” Compton said. “For him, he comes over here to the States and wants to have a good opportunity to showcase his ability and try to play college golf.”
Bean and Garcia have become really close friends. Entering the year, the duo would have been battling for the varsity team’s No. 1 role.
“When they told me that he couldn’t play, I was bummed,” Bean said. “I’m still glad he’s out here, though. It’s fun to play against someone that pushes me to play up to his standards, his level.”
According to Kansas Golf Scores, Garcia has fired rounds of 3-over and 5-over during two junior varsity tournaments this spring.
Hayden senior Mateo Garcia smiles after nailing a putt for par on hole 11 at Western Hills Golf Course on April 29, 2026.
While this season has provided some bumps in the road for Garcia, his spirits remain high. He’s received a college scholarship from Ottawa University and continues to share his contact information with colleges across the country.
Garcia just needs a chance to showcase his skills.
As the end of the year looms, he is appreciative of everyone who has been in his corner.
“It’s all about the friendships that I’ve built,” Garcia said. “The golf team has been so kind to me, and it’s been a really nice experience.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Talented Mexican golfer barred from Kansas high school’s varsity team