The Valparaiso University women’s golf program has announced the addition of a quartet of incoming student-athletes for the 2022-2023 academic and athletic year.

Head coach Jill McCoy will welcome Emily Krzyzanowski (Scottsbluff, Neb. / Gering), Taylor Skibinski (Michigan City, Ind. / Michigan City), Elizabeth Nowaczyk (Scottsdale, Ariz. / BASIS Phoenix) and Katelyn McCoy (Chesterton, Ind. / Chesterton) to the program.

“I am very excited about our 2022 recruiting class,” Jill McCoy said. “It has been a lot of fun getting to know this group of exceptional young ladies. I see a lot of determination and competitiveness in this group. There is something very special about this recruiting class. I see a spark in them to win and bring success to our program. This class is very special to me.”

Skibinski was a sectional medalist and team medalist as a freshman, an all-Duneland Athletic Conference choice all four years of high school and was named the DAC Most Valuable Player as a senior. A three-time state qualifier, Skibinski was a regional runner-up in 2020 and earned medalist honors at multiple 2021 events.

“After weighing all of my options, I decided that Valpo is the best fit for me academically and athletically,” Skibinski said. “With the University’s prestigious reputation, this will give me the best opportunity to further my future career.”

Krzyzanowski continues a family tradition of golfing at the collegiate level as her brother Erik played for Gonzaga and her sister Kaitlyn competed at South Dakota. After playing on back-to-back state championship Scottsbluff teams in 2019 and 2020, Krzyzanowski transferred to Gering for her senior season. This fall, she tied for third in the Class B State Tournament.

“I chose Valpo golf for its amazing team environment and people,” Krzyzanowski said.

An experienced golfer and a member of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, Nowaczyk owns a pair of third-place finishes, 23 top-10 finishes and 38 top-25 finishes in her strong junior career. 

“When looking at schools, I wanted to play for a tight-knit, smaller University in the Midwest,” Nowaczyk said. “I wanted to find somewhere where I can grow as both a student and as a golfer. I think Valpo is just the place.”

The daughter of head coach Jill McCoy, Katelyn McCoy is a four-year letter winner at Chesterton. She made a hole-in-one as a freshman and put together a strong career that saw her finish as a sectional runner-up during her senior season. She was named Chesterton’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman and team MVP the next three seasons.

“I have always strived to play at the collegiate level,” Katelyn said. “Being able to play for my mom in the program that she has worked so hard to improve makes this even more exciting.”

Katelyn will become the second active Valpo student-athlete to play for his or her parent as a head coach, joining baseball’s Kyle Schmack. Prior to Schmack, the last parent/child student-athlete/head coach combo at Valpo was Bryce and Homer Drew in 1998.

“Having my daughter join the team is a proud parent moment,” McCoy said. “As a coach, I see her determination and competitiveness. I have taught and coached Taylor alongside my daughter Katelyn since they were about 8 years old. It is truly going to be an experience like no other to have them both on the team.”