This fall, Washington University will boast 19 varsity teams-10 women’s and 9 men’s-with the addition of a women’s varsity golf squad.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for women students,” said Athletic Director John Schael. “They appreciate the opportunity to become an NCAA program.”
The players agree. “I’m really excited,” said sophomore Kris Zeschin. “We’ve been working hard to get [the team] up to varsity status, and it’s really nice to see that our hard work has paid off.”
“I’m excited that it was a women’s team that was recognized first,” said classmate Snow Powers. (The male golf team has club status.)
The team, currently composed of sophomores Zeschin, Powers, Claire Glasspiegel, Danielle Prague, Beth Pfohl and Tegan Bukowski and freshmen Caroline Larose and Kate Pettinato, began competing-and winning-in the spring of 2007 with Sean Curtis, the current director of club and intramural sports, serving as their head coach. They beat out four other local schools to win their first tournament and have consistently finished among the top four during their first year of play, in which the team participated in seven tournaments in total.
According to Curtis, the team strives to be competitive on a national level while providing an opportunity for women interested in playing golf.
“I am honored to be the coach of the first women’s team,” said Curtis, who will also continue his duties as director of club and intramural sports next year even with the added head coach responsibilities.
In only one year of existence, the team has faced the challenges of any other varsity team, losing lone senior Maris Formas, the daughter of a golf professional, to graduation after she lead the team for a season. Zeschin, a Colorado state champion, and Powers, a state qualifier in Oregon, also provide strong golf leadership for the team.
To gain varsity status, players had to make sure that there were at least six individuals, the minimum number of people needed for a team, who were completely committed. They then went on to play two full seasons before gaining approval from the gender equity committee, the athletic director and the Chancellor.