Women's Golf Swings with Change

August 24, 2017
The Wheaton Women’s Golf team hopes to challenge their competition throughout their season this year, while also adjusting to new changes.
Head Coach Allison Paluchniak was hired by the Wheaton Athletic Department in July of this year, according to the CCIW website.
Paluchniak graduated from Trinity Christian College in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, according to the CCIW website. Wheaton Athletics also decided to utilize Paluchniak’s coaching abilities on the basketball court when they hired her as an assistant coach for the Wheaton Women’s Basketball team.
Paluchniak sees promising potential for her new team this season. “[Since it is] my first year, I’m still getting the lay of the land for the conference, but I would love to see us compete at each event and then be at our best at the end of the year for our conference tournament.”
According to Paluchniak, the Wheaton golf team recruited three freshmen this year. “Last year there were no freshman on the women’s golf team. I’m excited for the competition of this season.”
There are five varsity positions and seven rostered golfers, which will increase competition and therefore skill within the team, according to Paluchniak.
“Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage should be our toughest competition,” Paluchniak said.
Illinois Wesleyan won the CCIW women’s golf championship and Carthage was runner-up last year, according to the conference website. Wheaton placed fourth last season; Madeline Bond, who graduated last year, was Wheaton’s top individual finisher, in addition to graduated senior Ariana Kim who was close behind, earning 12th and 14th place, respectively.
While they graduated their two top performers, Paluchniak said that the team has great leadership in the four upperclassmen on the team. “They have already shown tremendous leadership abilities both on and off the course,” Paluchniak said. “They will be looked to throughout the season to be some of our top performers as well as lead our team.”
The Wheaton women’s golf team will travel to Bristol Oaks Country Club in Wisconsin to compete in the Carthage College Shootout on the Border on Sept. 1 starting at 12 p.m. and Sept. 2 at 9 a.m.