WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington and Jefferson College women's golf team will be looking continue the success following a historic 2025-26 season into the 2026-27 campaign.
 
2025-26 Season Review
 
W&J finished in the top five of every tournament they competing in during the fall 2025 season. The team started off the campaign with their first of five tournament wins on the year at the Thiel Fall Invitational. The Red & Black also took home the team title at the Franciscan Fall Invitational, along with second place finishes at the Bluffton Fall Classic, and the Fall Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships. Recent graduate MacKenzie Schmeltz (Edwardsburg, Mich./Saint Joseph) took home the individual title at the Franciscan Fall Invitational as well.
 
During the Spring 2026 campaign, W&J picked up two additional team titles at the Pennsylvania Classic and the Westminster Spring Invitational. The Red & Black also picked up a second-place finish as the hosts of the Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational to close out the regular season.
 
The 2025-26 regular season was a record-breaking campaign for the Presidents. The team secured the most invitational event wins in recorded history since 2013. Head Coach Matt Kluck also won his second women's golf Coach of the Year honors last year.
 
In the postseason, W&J overcame a 15 shot deficit following their second place finish at the PAC Fall Championships to take home their first PAC Title since 2016 by 11 strokes. The championship also secured the team a place at the NCAA Division III Championships, their first appearance since the last title.
 
Newcomers
 
W&J welcomes two newcomers as part of the class of 2030.
 
Tess Kanche (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon)
Luciana Taylor (Visalia, Calif./Redwood)
 
Returners
 
Senior Julia Barthelemy (Crescent, Pa./Moon Area) returns to the lineup after finishing in the top 15 in all but one event last season. This includes two top three results last season. Barthelemy averaged a score of 83.03 in 18 rounds played. Additionally, Antolena Damico (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford) returns for her junior season. Damico had five top-15 finishes last year with 16 total rounds played.
 
Abigail Tikey (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) returns to the lineup for her senior season. Tikey had one top twenty finish in five rounds played last year. Junior Makenna Raabe (Plum, Pa./Plum) will also look to have an increased presence in the lineup this season.
 
Coaching Staff
 
Head Coach Matt Kluck returns for his 11^th year in charge of the W&J women's golf team. The reigning PAC Women's Golf Coach of the Year serves as a member of the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Committee. Additionally, Kluck serves on the Great Lakes Regional Golf Committee.  
 
2026 Schedule Preview
 
W&J opens up the 2026 fall season at the Toftrees Invitational, one of the premier Division III tournaments in the region. Additionally, the Presidents will finish up the fall campaign by competing at the Guy and Jean Kuhn Invitational, hosted by Allegheny, and the Red Wolves Invitational, hosted by Saint Francis.
 
The Fall Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships are scheduled for October 12-13. Additional events for the spring 2027 season will be announced at a later date.