VERMILLION, S.D. – The 2023 fall season was an historic one for the South Dakota women's golf team.  Buoeyed by a mix of veteran leaders and talented freshmen, the Coyotes won the Ozarks National Invite, and took second at the Terrier Intercollegiate.  They went on to finish 2^nd at the Summit League Championships, the best league finish for USD women's golf in the DI era.  On Friday, they'll start the next chapter as they open the 2024 spring season at the Rio Verde Invite in Rio Verde, Arizona. 
 
If the Coyotes are going to build off their strong 2023 season, they'll do it with a significantly different cast of characters.  Seniors Danica Badura (last year's Summit League runner-up and Molly Fossen graduated.  Akari Hayashi, a first-team all-conference performer last year, left to pursue professional opportunities overseas.  That leaves Coach Brett Bennett with a roster entirely made up of underclassmen, with three sophomores and four freshmen.  "This roster is very young, and very talented," said Bennett of his team.  "I am looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish this year and beyond." 
 
Due to the dearth of upperclassmen, Bennett is turning to his sophomore class to be leaders.  And the group has responded.  Two returning Coyotes competed at the Summit League Championship last year.  Catie Nekola was All-League Honorable Mention her freshman year and finished seventh at the Summit League Championships.  In the fall, the St. Charles, Illinois, native finished among the Coyotes' top two finishers at three of five events.  She finished fifth overall at the Redbird Invitational in September.  Nekola's talent and experience will be key to the Coyotes' success this season.
 
Said Bennett of Nekola, "Now in her second season at USD, Catie has developed a new understanding of what it's going to take for her to advance her game to the next level. She will always be in position to have success because of her ball striking. When the putts fall for her, she is one of the best golfers in our league.  Once she gets a couple of little things tightened up, she will be able to lead this team on and off the course."
 
Emma Henningsson is the Coyotes' other returning golfer with significant experience.  She was a regular participant in the lineup as a freshman, and finished 16^th at the Summit League Championship, a key performer in USD's runner-up finish.  A native of Sweden, Henningsson finished the fall season strong.  She was the Coyotes' top performer at each of the final two fall tournaments, including a 5^th place finish at the Pat Lesser-Horbottle Invitational in October.  She was named a Summit League "Golfer to Watch" in the preseason as well.  In the fall, Henningson participated in the Southwest Airlines Showcase, live on the Golf Channel, where she hit a hole in one. 
 
"Emma has matured in her approach on and off the course in her sophomore year," said Bennett.  "Last year she simply set out to establish herself, which she did.  But this season she has been a different player.  Emma has taken advantage of the resources that are in place to help her take her game to the level that she aspires to.  She can hit the ball a long way, which is a huge benefit for her, and she has embraced that. As we saw in the late fall, she can compete at the top of the leaderboard in any tournament she is in.  She has real professional aspirations and we will continue to build her toolbox during her college career." 
 
South Dakota's other sophomore golfer is Alexa Wingnean.  The Canadian biomedical engineering major played just four official rounds last season, but still finished on the Summit League Academic Honor Roll.  Her game has taken a major step forward this year.  She was in the lineup for all five fall tournaments and finished third on the team at the Redbird Invitational.  Her continued improvement will be key on a team with so many first-year players. 
 
"Alexa's commitment to her game has been really fun to watch.  She wants to contribute to this team's success," said Bennett.  "After mostly serving as the alternate last year, she was motivated to be a bigger part of the regular lineup this year.  She really took that to heart and put the work in to improve her game to a level that has made that a reality.  It's been great to see her transition this season and I am proud of her."
 
South Dakota also welcomed four freshmen to the squad this year and all four have hit the ground running, making contributions immediately.  Perhaps none have made their presence felt on the course as much as Ella Greenberg.  Hailing from Rockford, Illinois, Greenberg participated in all five fall meets this year as a freshman.  She put up one of the team's two lowest scores twice, including back-to-back fifth place finishes to start her college golf career.  The latter came on the back of a school record setting single round score of 67 in the third round of the Redbird Invitational, where she ultimately tied teammate Catie Nekola for fifth.
 
"Ella felt like she just never quite fully put it together this fall.  It was close, but it wasn't quite what she wanted.  Which is saying something because she made an immediate impact on our team," said Bennett.  "This winter, we worked on some minor adjustments to her technique that will pay huge dividends. In this game, it's the little things that add up. When she starts to fire on all cylinders, you will see a player that will help our team to the top of leaderboards." 
 
Ava Schroeder was another freshman who made a quick impact this fall.  The Colorado native was the Coyotes' low scorer in her first collegiate tournament in September, finishing fourth at the NDSU Fall Invitational.  She was also USD's low scorer in the final tournament of the fall, the Pat Bradley Invitational.  The pre-business major played in four tournaments overall in the fall.
 
Said Bennett on Schroeder, "Ava has found her place here at USD since joining us in the fall. Her fiery and competitive nature and drive to be the best will have her find unbelievable success here at USD. The more reps she gets at this level, the more she will grow. She has found a commitment to the team that will make her an all-around collegiate player here through the spring season and ultimately the rest of her career." 
 
A native of Germany, freshman Lara Gehring also played an immediate role on the team this fall.  Gehring participated in four of the Coyotes' five fall events while acclimating to life on a new continent.  She was among the Coyotes three lowest scorers twice this fall. 
 
"Lara is such a pleasure to have as a part of our program," said Bennett.  "She fit in with the team immediately with her laid back personality and a laugh that is infectious.  She has gotten a taste of what college golf is through her participation in the lineup multiple times this fall.  When given the opportunity, she battled hard for her team and showed her commitment to the group.  She has shown she will be ready to contribute when given the opportunity."
 
The Coyotes' last freshman is Avery O'Donnell.  A native of Elk River, Minnesota, O'Donnell participated in just one event this fall.  The pre-business major was a five-time all-conference performer in high school.
 
Said Bennett, "Avery is the type of player that every team must have. She brings everyone together with her sense of camaraderie and lovable personality. The fall was an adjustment period for her and her game.  But she has seen progress and made a commitment to change that will take her game to the next level."
 
It is a new era for South Dakota women's golf.  Fresh off one of their best seasons in years, a new roster of young, talented Coyotes will look to write their own chapter.  Folks around the league know the talent this roster possesses.  South Dakota was picked 3^rd in the preseason poll.  We have 'em higher.
 
"The growth of this group through the winter has been awesome to watch. The relationships these student-athletes have built with one another, and drive they've shown is going to lead to success in this spring season.  I expect this young group to build through their experiences this season on and off the golf course this year, which will reap great benefits in the long run.  It is only the beginning for them," added Bennett on his team.
 
The Coyotes open their spring season on Friday at the Rio Verde Invite in Rio Verde, Arizona.  Their schedule then sees them travel to Puerto Rico, Missouri and Omaha before the Summit League Championships which are set for April 21^st through