Wayne State women’s golf coach Nick Swaney has announced four recruits who will continue their academic and golf careers with the Wildcats for the 2023-24 season.
The group includes Hailey Kenkel and Olivia Ottman from Grand Island, Erica Lee of Omaha and Kylie Powers from Irwin, Iowa.
Kenkel was a four-year starter in golf at Grand Island Senior High School and also lettered three years in basketball. She was a four-time Class A state qualifier in golf, highlighted by a tie for fifth place as a senior in the 2022 state tournament shooting scores of 78 and 80 (154). Kenkel carded a career-best 70 in her senior season to win the Grand Island Invite. She was a Super State honoree as a senior and excels in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honors four years. In basketball, Kenkel averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game during her senior season.
“We are very excited to bring Hailey into our program,” said Swaney. “She’s a talented player with a golf game that can compete in college events quickly. Hailey is a great competitor and I am looking forward to seeing her take on the challenge of college golf. She has a very successful career as a Wildcat ahead of her.”
Ottman is a graduate of Grand Island Northwest High School, where she was a four-year starting playing on four Class B state tournament teams. She earned a 13th place medal as a senior, carding rounds of 84-91 (175), helping the Vikings to a sixth-place team finish. Ottman just missed a medal during her junior campaign, tied for 16th with scores of 95 and 96 for 191 helping Northwest to a fourth-place team finish. She also excels in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honors.
“We are excited to see where Olivia’s golf game can go,” remarked Swaney. “Olivia has been successful throughout her high school career and has the potential to become a very good player. I am excited to see her rise to the challenge of the level of competition within our own team and the conference.”
Lee was a three-time Class A state medalist for Millard North. She tied for seventh as a senior, recording rounds of 80-79 (159) helping Millard North to a third-place team finish. Lee also placed 11th as a junior (81-79/160) and was 13th as a freshman in the 2019 season. She posted a season scoring average of 79 as a senior, highlighted by a career-best round of 73. Lee was a First Team Super State selection as a senior, All-Conference as a junior and senior and Academic All-State.
“Erica will be a great addition to our program,” commented Swaney. “She is incredibly talented on and off the golf course. On the course she is a well-rounded player that will be a consistent scorer and has a history of playing well in difficult competition so I am excited to see how her career progresses.”
Powers comes to Wayne State from IKM-Manning High School in Iowa, where she was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball and golf. She was a three-time Class 1A medalist in Iowa, taking seventh this year as a senior (89-90/179), eighth as a junior shooting 175 (83-92) and 11th during her sophomore season with a 175 (90-85). Powers was a two-time Class 1A region champion and Western Iowa Conference champion and made school history by becoming the first player to qualify for the state tournament.
“Kylie isn’t afraid of working hard and taking on a challenge,” stated Swaney. “She has had a very successful high school career and has the potential to be a person who can improve our team culture. Kylie really wants the challenge of competing for the Wildcats and can be a teammate that pushes others while finding her own success.”
