As the fall air rolls across the greens, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s golf team finds itself right where it wants to be: confident, connected, and ready to chase another championship. Head coach Andrea Wieland, who has built one of Division III’s most consistent golf programs, knows the 2025 WIAC Championship marks more than just another tournament. For the Warhawks, it’s the defining event of the season and the one that could determine whether they earn a spot at the NCAA Championships.

“We’ve played in a lot of events this fall, but that one always stands out,” Wieland said.

The fall season has given the Warhawks plenty to be proud of. One standout moment for Wieland came from sophomore golfer Peyton Schmidt, whose poised performance in Michigan stood out against tough Division II competition.

“She played really well on one of the hardest courses we’ve faced,” Wieland said. “It was impressive. Even though we finished last, as expected against Division II teams, I was proud of how focused she stayed. It gave her confidence knowing she can compete on a challenging course.”

That confidence Wieland sees carried over to the WIAC Championship and will be crucial going forward. A week after the conference tournament, Whitewater will head south to Destin, Florida, where they’ll compete in the nationally-recognized Golf Week Invitational, a three-day event featuring some of the top Division III programs in the country. 

“The next two weeks are huge for us,” Wieland said. “Hopefully, we peak right now.”

While individual performances have been impressive, Wieland says the team’s greatest progress hasn’t come from the scorecard but from its connection from the team. 

“This is a newer lineup for us, so we spent a lot of time getting to know each other, bonding, and just building team chemistry,” Wieland said. “The girls are great at helping each other with their games. It’s fun to watch them gel together and support one another. We definitely got closer as a group.” 

That closeness shows up in the details. The laughter between holes, the encouragement after a tough round, the sense of belonging that keeps everyone grounded through the season’s highs and lows. Wieland believes that chemistry is the secret ingredient to performing under pressure. She also emphasizes the importance of mental strength.

 “Physically, we’ve just been working on our skill set, getting in reps, chipping and putting, focusing on our short game,” Wieland said. “Mentally, it’s about treating this like any other tournament. If we put too much pressure on ourselves, we make mistakes. I tell them to stick to the process and trust their training.” 

To help her players stay composed, Wieland reminds them to “go back to neutral.” It’s a phrase she uses to teach players how to recover from frustration or overthinking.

“It’s about having something that brings you back when you start to lose focus,” Wieland said. “For some girls, it’s a word or a tempo, everyone has their own cue. I just remind them of that on the course. ‘What’s your thing?’ It helps them reset and stay grounded.”

That calm and process-driven mindset has helped the Warhawks remain consistent, especially on familiar ground. Wieland says the team’s comfort level with the championship course worked in their favor this weekend.

 “We’ve had a lot of success on this golf course, and that’s not a mistake,” she said. “We’re super comfortable here. If we go in knowing we love it and we’re excited, that alone gives us a huge advantage.”

As the team starts to wrap up the fall season, Wieland can’t help but reflect on how proud she is of the group she leads. 

“They’re really good people,” she said with a smile. “They work hard, they’re kind-hearted, and they’re fun to be around. They’re coachable, open, and always want to do the right thing. I’m really fortunate to have a group like this.”

Wieland put it best: the Warhawks are ready to show the conference just how far they’ve come.