NORMAL, Ill.- The Illinois State women's golf team signed Morgan Savage and Paige Seiser to continue their academic and athletic careers at ISU, as announced by head coach Darby Sligh Friday. Savage and Seiser will begin their first collegiate season with the Redbirds in the fall of 2016.
Morgan Savage // Rochester, Illinois // Rochester High School
Notable: Upon graduating from Rochester High School in May of 2016, Savage will have completed four years as a varsity golfer. As a freshman, Savage carded an 18-hole average of 81 and received All-Central State 8 honors. She tied for 18th place on the individual leaderboard at the state tournament, while leading Rochester to regional and sectional championships, before the team placed second at state. As a sophomore, Savage fired an 18-hole average of 78, with a career-best round of 71. She received her first Central State 8 Conference Player of the Year honor and was a regional and sectional medalist. Savage placed third as an individual at the state tournament, while Rochester finished second for the second-straight year. During her junior year, Savage continued to improve her scoring average, as she carded an 18-hole average of 77. For the second-straight year, she was named the Central State 8 Conference Player of the Year. Savage placed third at the conference tournament, before taking second place on the individual leaderboard at the state tournament. Rochester continued to do well at state, as the team placed third during Savage's junior season. As a senior, Savage shot an 18-hole average of 75, earning Central State 8 Player of the Year for the third-straight season. The scoring average of 75 was the best of Savage's career. At the end of her senior season, Savage was a regional and sectional medalist, before taking second place as an individual at the state tournament. She also led her team to a conference and state championship
Coach Sligh on Savage: "Morgan embodies the qualities I look for in a student-athlete that is going to take this program to the next level. She is fierce in her approach to competition and to preparation. She is driven and knows what she wants to accomplish in her career. I'm excited that she has chosen Illinois State as the place to help facilitate those dreams. I am looking for big things from Morgan, as soon as she gets to campus next fall."
Paige Seiser // Waukee, Iowa // Waukee High School
Notable: Upon graduating from Waukee High School in May of 2016, Seiser will have completed four years as a varsity golf member. As a freshman, Seiser recorded a fourth-place finish on the individual leaderboard at the state tournament. With the fourth-place finish, Seiser had the best finish at state for any freshman in school history. Seiser finished her freshman season with a duals record of 35-1. Seiser received all-state first-team honors, as well as all-tournament first-team accolades. As a team, Waukee finished the season ranked No. 1 in the state, after winning the Class 5A State Championship. As a sophomore, Seiser tallied a duals record of 46-2, and she received all-state first-team honors, as well as all-tournament first-team accolades, for the second-straight season. Waukee defended its Class 5A State Championship title, ending the season in the No. 1 spot for the second-straight season. As a junior, Seiser held a perfect 48-0 record. For the third-straight season, she received all-state and all-tournament first-team honors, while being named the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association (IHSGCA) Class 5A Player of the Year. As a team Waukee placed fourth in the Class 5A State Championship. In addition, Seiser had two top-five finishes in American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events.
Coach Sligh on Seiser: "Paige is one of the most decorated student-athletes we have had come to Illinois State. Her record on a national and state level sets her apart from many, and I am looking for her to capitalize on that experience here at Illinois State. Paige has a work ethic that is second to none and will continue to raise the bar for this program both on and off the course. I want to see Paige's tenacity and drive lead us to future championships."
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
###
