2011-2012 William Penn Women’s Golf Preview

William Penn Women's Athletics

2010-2011 MCC Finish: 7th of 9
Letterwinners returning/lost: 5/0

Notable returners:
Amanda Paceley Sr. Higley, Ariz.
(Honorable-mention all-MCC, 91.1 avg., low of 83)
Dena Stevens Sr. Oskaloosa
(92.0 avg., low of 81)
Courtney Kronmuller Jr. Fountain Valley, Calif.
(93.2 avg., low of 85)

Notable losses:
None

Notable newcomers:
Ashley Manhnieo Fr. Las Vegas, Nev.
Maggie Yang Fr. Chino, Calif.
Mayci Rule So. Idaho Falls, Idaho

Hopefully on the precipice of greatness, the Lady Statesmen golf team prepares for an exciting 2011-2012 season.

In just his second year at the helm, Head Coach Nik Rule is confident his program is heading in the right direction and with all five members of last year’s squad back and three quality new faces joining the crew, his confidence should be high.

Dena Stevens (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), who earned honorable-mention all-MCC laurels as a sophomore, returns for her final campaign, but unfortunately will graduate in December. Therefore, the pressure will be on her teammates to step up in her absence.

Stevens won two tournaments last year en route to a 92.0 average. She tied her own 36-hole school record with a score of 166.

“Dena has been a part of this program since it was reestablished in 2008 and has seen a lot of changes,” Rule said. “For the first time in her career, she will have the opportunity to participate on a team that can win every time it takes the course.”

2011 honorable-mention all-MCC performer Amanda Paceley (Sr., Higley, Ariz., South Mountain CC) and Courtney Kronmuller (Jr., Fountain Valley, Calif., Fullerton CC) will be the first two players Rule seeks out to replace Stevens’ scoring. Both are more than capable as Paceley posted four top tens (91.1 average) despite only playing in the fall, while Kronmuller added three more top tens (93.2 average).

“Amanda has great ball-striking ability and has a handy short game,” Rule said. “If she continues to work hard like she did in practice last year, the sky is the limit for what she can do for this team.”

“Courtney has one of the most fluid swings in the conference and is a natural leader for us,” Rule said. “She collected some valuable tournament experience last year and this summer she worked meticulously on improving her game.”

“I expect Amanda and Courtney to continue to build on the positive seasons they had last year,” Rule added.

Aubrey Leasure (Sr., St. Peter, Minn., St. Peter HS) and Presley Joss (Jr., Osceola, Clarke HS) saw varsity action a season ago and are only better for having that opportunity.

“Aubrey’s game has a huge ceiling,” Rule said. “She has yet to realize how good she can be and will provide us with depth that we are not accustomed to having. Presley joined us in the spring and we have been working all summer on improving her game. She has gained a lot of confidence in her play.”

Ashley Manhnieo (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Olathe Northwest HS) and Maggie Yang (Fr., Chino, Calif., Diamond Bar HS) top a list of three very gifted players who will also wear the navy and gold this year.

“We have a very strong recruiting class coming in with loads of tournament experience,” Rule said. “Maggie has had a very successful junior and high school career in Southern California and has been victorious in very prominent tournaments this summer. She has incredible work ethic and pure ability.”

“Ashley had similar success in high school,” Rule said. “She has great natural talent and can go very low. On the course, she is mature well beyond her years. I expect both freshmen to make a difference immediately.”

Mayci Rule (So., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Skyline HS) returns to William Penn after a year away. Back in 2008-2009, she was the team’s second-best player behind Stevens.

“We are happy to have Mayci back as she has already proven she can be a top player at the collegiate level,” Rule said. “She knows what to expect when she takes the course.”

Schedule/Conference

The Lady Statesmen open the year on September 3 at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion for the Mount Mercy Invitational. The team then hits the road for a very intriguing fall slate, highlighted by an accepted invitation to the NAIA Preview at Link Hills Golf Course in Greeneville, Tenn. Many of the NAIA’s best will be in competition there, so William Penn will see firsthand what it takes to be at the top of the division.

“I believe this is one of the most competitive schedules in the conference,” Rule said. “We are going to see a lot of the teams in our conference as well as some of the best teams in the country, making for a truly special fall season.”

Ashford knocked off eight-time defending MCC champion St. Ambrose last spring and the two programs should again be near the top. They will be in a dogfight with several other teams, however, including the Lady Statesmen, in a wide-open conference race.

“Even with Ashford and St. Ambrose leading the conference for years, this year’s race should be wide open,” Rule said. “The dynamics have slowly been changing in the MCC and it would not surprise me to see us, Viterbo, and Grand View battling competitively all season long with what have been traditionally the top teams.”

“The William Penn women’s golf team no longer has a wait-and-see attitude,” Rule concluded. “These girls want to win and they want to win now.”