I just received a letter from my friend Kris Wessinger, who is the ladies’ golf coach at the University of Minnesota. She is leaving her post to head up the women’s golf program at St. Catherine University.
Kris is one brave woman, considering St Kate’s has no golf team. What an opportunity! Starting from scratch, Wessinger will wear many hats as she starts the process of forming a women’s golf program that that will debut in the fall of 2011. From recruiting to raising funds, the coaching aspect is still a ways out.
It is a vital role Kris is playing to establish a women’s golf varsity program at St. Catherine University. I firmly believe after being a student athlete myself that a collegiate sports experience will prepare a young woman for a full and enriching life after school.
While many look at competition as negative, I have always felt it is a wonderful learning tool as it always provides feedback for improvement or gratification for achievement. Having a full slate of academic courses mixed in with homework and sports practice is a particular challenge that quickly develops the student athlete’s ability to multi-task.
Then there is the social aspect to working together as a team. Bonds made in college can be lifelong, but they are made particularly strong when you spend so much of your day with your teammates. These friendships are made the moment young women step onto the practice tee. Team players adjust well to most work environments and are able to get the job done!
There has been an incredible shift these past 20 years in division-one schools. They seem to be just a gateway for professional sports. They grind athletes to perfection, often leaving them with little time to be good old-fashioned student athletes who very well may decide to be a doctor, accountant, or a school teacher after college.
Gerald and I plan to fully support Kris in her new venture! St. Catherine University is a member of the MIAC and is extremely competitive in its varsity sports. Kris will do well with the eight years of coaching experience at the University coupled with her own competitive experience golfing at St. Thomas. We are thrilled that she has the opportunity to take this new journey that will positively impact the lives of many young Minnesota golfers in the upcoming years.
—Dee Forsberg
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