As the Weatherford College women's golf team prepares for the NJCAA Division I Championships, they're riding a wave of momentum that has transformed their season into something special. A powerful late-season push earned them the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Championship, followed by an impressive runner-up finish at the Southwest District Tournament on their home course, Canyon West.
"I'm really proud of this group," said head coach Dave Rennhack. "The extra work they've been putting in on their short games has paid off, and their mental approach has reached a new level. Playing at our home course was exciting, but they didn't take it for granted. They performed with confidence and stuck to a great game plan."
In the decisive final round of the district tournament, the Lady Coyotes made a statement by defeating Odessa College, the nation's top-ranked team. They finished just three strokes behind the defending national champion Wranglers—a breakthrough that has energized the entire squad.
"They had never beaten Odessa in a single round before," Rennhack noted. "That final-round performance opened their eyes to what's possible. If they bring that mindset to the national championship, they could make some serious noise."
Ranked No. 7 nationally, Weatherford is fueled by standout individual performances. Sophomore Corrina Haros, recently named NTJCAC Player of the Year, placed second at districts and finished fifth at nationals last season when the team took 13th. Freshman Tasnim Smaili secured third place, while sophomore Emily Gutierrez tied for fourth. Assistant coach Katie Johnston earned Coach of the Year honors from the conference.
The Lady Coyotes' depth shines through their all-conference selections: Smaili and Gutierrez made first team, freshmen Anjali Nair and Yixuan Mu earned second-team honors, and Haros, Smaili, Gutierrez, and Nair were named to the All-Region V Team. Looking ahead, Haros has committed to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, while Gutierrez will head to Texas A&M-Victoria.
Earlier this fall, the team won a tournament in Waco, where Gutierrez finished fourth individually, and took third in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Now, with the national championship on the horizon from May 11-14 at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois, Rennhack believes his team is ready for the challenge.
"I believe they are mentally prepared," he said. "They haven't seen this course before—it's a tough Pete Dye design—but they've proven so much to themselves this year. I'm looking forward to watching them play some great golf."
Meanwhile, the Weatherford College men's golf team is enjoying a historic season, one that rivals any in the program's storied past—including the days when Rennhack himself played for the Coyotes. They're poised to chase their own national championship dreams, making this a spring to remember for Weatherford golf.