With members of the Wayne State College women’s golf program starting to move back to town, the first official team practice will be on Aug. 22.
The 2024-25 Wayne State College women’s golf team will have nine out as three graduated. WSC will add two freshmen and one transfer.
Nick Swaney will be entering his third year leading the Wildcat women’s golf program.
Coach Swaney said the team has been trying to get a little bit better which included several golfers competing in some of the state events over the summer.
“We had three of our players make it through the first round of women’s match play here a week or two ago up at Landmand,” said Swaney. “It was nice to see them kind of be able to compete against some of those top division I players head-to-head in that second round during the qualifying round.”
Swaney coached at Midland University for 12 years and Dana College for a year prior.
Meg Thompsen is transferring from Des Moines Area Community College while two new Wildcat golfers will be Camryn Johnson from Broken Bow, NE and Gaia Stancikova from Italy. All three might find time among the five varsity spots with new faces and new groups playing together in tournaments.
Coach Swaney highlighted their top returners.
“Both Saffire (Sayre) and Abby Brodersen were all conference in 2023,” Swaney added. “Erica Lee really came on strong during the year, really one of our best players all spring. Then we got Haley Kenkel back as well who played a lot of varsity for us.”
From the seven players last year, four are returning for Wayne State College women’s golf.
WSC women’s golf declares the fall their non-championship season which allows them 60 days to practice and compete.
Players have been able to get out at the Wayne Country Club as coach Swaney mentioned the benefits.
“One, it’s right by campus and it just makes it really easy for players to get better if they want to put in the extra work and extra time to get out there,” Swaney mentioned. “Two, the membership and Kyle and his staff are great out there. They really let us do kind of whatever we want to get batter.”
Wayne State College women’s golf will have five outings in the fall starting Sept. 9-10 being a co-host with Nebraska-Kearney from Bayside Golf Club near Lake McConaughy. All nine golfers will be in action during the first tournament.
Some top golfers among the NSIC graduated but the league is still loaded.
“Augustana has won maybe 12 of the last 13 titles or quite a few of them but they had really two of their best players graduate and move on,” said Sawney. “They still have a lot of talent, probably going to be pretty good still. Mankato (Minnesota State) had their best player graduate and another player transfer out that was very talented but they’ve got three or four players back that played a lot on a very good team.”
Coach Swaney also mention Sioux Falls should be very good bringing in 6 – 7 new players.
“We got some great players coming back and we got some great players coming in,” Swaney added. “I think we have a good chance to be right in the mix if we can kind of keeping building and keep getting better and better as the year goes.”
Wayne State College women’s golf will look to get through the fall and build some more confidence before showing their talents in the spring.
