Defending WDA champion Mandan, Legacy return solid lineups

BISMARCK -- The Western Dakota Association girls’ golf season will feature a combination of proven championship talent and promising young players in 2026. Mandan enters the season as the defending WDA regular-season after winning every conference tournament in 2025. The Braves also defended its West Region Tournament title before a runner-up finish at the Class A State Tournament. The program, however, lost some key players to graduation, but all-state golfer Izzy Hale is back. Bismarck Legacy is coming off a solid season as well and returns a good group, including a pair of all-WDA performers. The Sabers are poised to challenge for the top spot. The season begins Aug. 14 with the TMCHS Invitational at the Rolla Golf Club. The West Region Tournament is scheduled for Sept. 28, and the Class A State Tournament will be played Oct. 5-6 at Riverwood Golf Course in Bismarck. 2025: A look back Mandan was the conference’s dominant team in 2025, winning all 10 WDA regular-season tournaments before capturing the West Region Tournament crown with a 323 at Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson. Minot North was second at the region meet with a 331, followed by Legacy at 344, St. Mary’s at 350, Century at 351 and Williston at 355. Those six teams advanced to the Class A Tournament. The Braves then produced the WDA’s best state finish, placing second with a two-day total of 636 at Fargo Country Club. West Fargo Sheyenne won the championship with a 595. Minot North placed sixth, St. Mary’s ninth, Century 10th, Legacy 11th and Williston 12th. Team-by-Team Outlook Bismarck High The Demons contuinue to be in a rebuilding phase. Bismarck High graduated its top two performers in Brynn Anderson and Elizabeth Schuh, but a handful return with experience. Among them is junior Jazymynn Backman. Her 103.8 scoring average is best among returners. Underclassmen Maggie Ness and Mackenzie Retzer are ready to take another step forward in their game this season. One of the program's goals is to build its numbers and develop consistent scores throughout the lineup that will be the key to moving up the conference standings Key returning candidates: Jazmynn Backman, Maggie Ness, Mackenzie Retzer Bismarck Century Century returns one of the more veteran lineups in the WDA. qualified for state by placing fifth at the region tournament and later finished 10th at state with a 715. Ashlen Larsen is the Patriots’ leading returner. She earned all-WDA honors as a freshman and posted Century’s best state score, a two-round 164. Larsen recorded several rounds in the low 80s during the season and tied for ninth at the region tournament with an 82. A trio of other golfers gained valuable tournament experience and will be called up to produce consistent results. Those are juniors Adalyn Gaube and seniors Claire Gange and Sophia Gange. Key returners: Ashlen Larsen, Adalyn Gaube, Claire Gange and Sophia Gange Bismarck Legacy Legacy took an important step forward in 2025, placing third at the West Region Tournament and returned to the state tournament after a two-year absence. Two big pieces to the Sabers' puzzle are back in freshman Rawni Roemmich and senior Peyton Kalanek. Roemmich consistently was the program's top finisher at meets and carded an impressive 160 total at state (81-79). Kalanek, who tied for seventh at the region meet with an 81, also was an all-WDA finisher. Senior Zander Wald and freshman Kate Grossman return to give the squad depth to contend for a region crown. Key returners: Rawni Roemmich, Peyton Kalanek, Zander Wald. Bismarck St. Mary’s The Saints will be in a bit of rebuilding mode after its fourth consecutive state tournament appearance in 2025. The squad graduated its top two golfers, including West Reigon medalist and ninth-place state finisher, Lola Huber. Junior Addie Zimmerman has the most returning experience to the state lineup, competing in varsity play for a third year. Sophomores Rozzi Horner and Lily Wilson were regulars in the varsity lineup and gained experience in postseason play. Fellow sophomore Megan McKitrick competed in a trio of tournaments. St. Mary's has no seniors in the lineup, so this season is an opportunity to gain more experience while striving to continue the program's string of postseason appearances. Key returners: Addie Zimmerman, Rozzi Horner and Lily Wilson Dickinson The Mavericks just missed a state team tournament appearance a season ago, but they should be a strong contender to return to the state tournament this fall. The team did graduate an all-conference performer, but senior Mikayla Schwindt came on strong at the end of the season and will be ready to lead the Mavericks. She had a impressive finish at the state meet, carding a two-day total of 163. placed seventh at the West Region Tournament with a 361, missing the final team qualifying position by six strokes. Fellow senior Graze Dazell has gain plenty of meet experience. And the team also includes Ella Hogan, who transferred from Watford City, to build a solid team around. Key returners: Mikayla Schwindt, Grace Dazell, Ella Hogan Jamestown Jamestown graduated its top finisher in 2025, but does return one golfer who qualified individually for the state touranment. Sophomore Braelyn Wiese carded a two-day total of 188 at the state meet. The Blue Jays were Michel earned all-WDA honors and posted a two-day state total of 174. Wiese finished with a 188. Their postseason experience gives Jamestown a strong foundation as it attempts to return to the state tournament as a team. Key returners: Braelyn Wiese, Katelyn Monson, Ivy Corell Mandan The defending conference and region champion did graduate a trio of players who were a big part of the program's success in recent seasions. However, one key golfer returns. Junior Izz Hale is the conference’s top returning scorer. In addition to earning medalist honors on several occassions, she has played well in the big moments, and two top 10 finishes in Class A Touraments in her career. Junior Aliya Copas and sophomore Sloane Tentis add state experience to a lineup accustomed to competing for championships. Finding a few more golfers to fill the lineup will be key. Key returners: Izzy Hale, Aliya Copas and Sloane Tentis Minot High The Majettes return a pair of golfers who qualified individually for the state tournament in senior Taylor DesLauriers and freshman Claire Hendrickson. As well as junior Kenadee Burud. Burud's 87.1 scoring average is among the best of returning golfers in the conference. Minot High also had a number of young players who earned meet experience and the team should be in the contender for a state tournament berth. Key returning candidates: Taylor Deslauriers, Claire Hendrickson, Kenadee Burud Minot North Minot North was Mandan’s closest WDA challenger for much of 2025 and finished runner-up at the West Region Tournament for a second year in a row. The squad was hit hard with graduaton, losing senior athlete of the year Kinzy Welstad and Emersyn Kopp. Both were among the top WDA golfers over the past few seasons and earned all-state honors. Two other regular performers graduated. The Sentinels will draw on junior Katelyn Bast's experience to guide the young team. She had a 90.6 scoring average in 2025. Freshman Miyah Fundingsland also competed at last year's tate tournament. Key returners: Katelyn Bast, Miyah Fundingsland, Bryleigh McBride TMCHS Belcourt TMCHS had just one senior last season, but a key contributor in Akealyes Azure. The Braves will hope the experience gained by its youth-filled lineup will yield improvements this season. Among the returners in sohomore Autumn Trottier. Her 111.6 average lead the team. Sophomore Katelyn Azure and eighth grader Bella Azure competed regularly. Key returning candidates: Autumn Trottier, Katelyn Azure, Bella Azure Watford City The Wolves had a breakthrough season in many regards in 2025. Although the squad did not qualify for state, three Wolves golfers did compete individually in Fargo. The squad's top performer is back in senior Harlee Olson. She had a team-best 89.4 scoring average. Freshman Ella Gravos will also be counted on for consistent scores and a few others saw regular meet experience, including senior Alyssa Holen; freshman Rikee George and eighth grader Payton Schultz. Key returners: Harlee Olson, Ella Gravos Williston Williston will have to endure some key losses to graduation, including all-WDA performers Kale Larsen and Dani Tinklenberg. Two other key departures were Anyka Wiedrich adn Julie Heller. That foursome helped the program earn a state team tournament berth in 2025. A pair of golfers with postseason experience doe return in senior Aslyn Engh and sophomore Abby Johnson. Key returning candidates: Returning state participants from the group of Abby Johnson, Aslyn Engh, Olivia Agre Individual Race Takes on a New Look Graduation removed several of the conference’s leading 2025 golfers, including region champion Lola Huber, Kinzy Welstad, Emersyn Kopp, Brooklyn Monteith, Kali Larsen and Kyndall Peterson. That leaves Mandan's Izzy Hale as the headliner entering 2026. She is the conference’s top returning scorer and a two-time all-state finisher. However, there are others with talent, including Legacy's Rawni Roemmich and Peyton Kalenek. Century's Ashlen Larsen; Dickinson's Mikayla Schwindt and Minot High's Kenadee Burud.