ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Houghton University disc golf program sent 10 student-athletes to compete at last week's College Disc Golf Association National Championships, closing out the season on one of the sport's biggest stages.
Men's Division I Battles Back
Houghton's Division I squad—Peter Stickney, Reid Cockle, Ryan Lorenc, and Zach Sisson—faced a challenging start in windy conditions during the singles portion, finishing day one tied for 44th. A two-stroke penalty for a late check-in before round two compounded the difficulty, placing the Highlanders at the back of the field heading into the final rounds.
The team responded with resilience. In round three, Houghton surged out to a blistering start at -5 through five holes, finishing the round at -8 to jump 10 spots in the standings. The momentum continued into Saturday, where a -7 team round lifted the Highlanders to a 37th-place finish overall in Division I.
Men's Division III Shows Consistency
The Division III team—Wes Anderson, Caleb Loew, André Spronk, and Ryan Zirilli—was led in singles play by Spronk, who posted a team-best +9.
In team competition, the Highlanders turned in their strongest performance during round three, carding a -4, highlighting their steady improvement throughout the tournament.
Women's Duo Gains Valuable Experience
Emily Schweigart and freshman Carolyn Powers competed together at nationals for the first time, representing Houghton on the women's side.
Powers opened her singles round in impressive fashion, shooting even through the first six holes before battling difficult tee shots, tight out-of-bounds lines, and windy conditions down the stretch. She finished 35th overall, just one stroke ahead of Schweigart, as the duo placed 19th in team standings.
Coach's Perspective
Head coach Ben Campbell noted the impact of conditions and early tee times on the competition.
"At a tournament this large, tee times can make a significant difference… It was incredibly windy for our D1 and ladies' singles rounds, and it got the better of us. Waking up before 6 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. tee time can be taxing, but all our teams showed tremendous fight and determination to improve after each round."
Honoring the Seniors
The national championship marked the final collegiate competition for several Highlanders: Caleb Loew, Ryan Lorenc, Carter Sisson, André Spronk, and Ryan Zirilli.
"I just want to thank all of the seniors for the work they put in over these last few years," Campbell added. "Carter, Ryan, and André started in the second year of the program. Without them, our team certainly wouldn't be the same."
Houghton closes the 2026 season with valuable national experience and a strong foundation built on perseverance, growth, and leadership from its senior class.
