Marshall University Athletics
Women's Golf Announces Two Signees
11/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Nov. 14, 2007
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall women's golf coach Meredith Knight-Rowsey announced the signing of two student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent who will compete for the Thundering Herd.
The two signees include Maria Battaglia from Uniontown, Pa. and Kaci Boyd from Ashland, Ky.
"I have been so anxious to announce my recruits for next year," Knight-Rowsey commented. "Maria and Kaci were my top two prospects and when I received verbal commitments from them both my class was complete. They are both solid players with a world of potential to rise to the top."
Battaglia, who currently attends Laurel Highlands High School in Uniontown, comes off of a successful summer which saw her take second place in the Penn State Girls Junior Championship, along with being first place Local Qualifier for the US Girls Junior Championship in which she competed.
The four-time State High School Girls Tournament qualifier was also the captain of her High School Boys team this fall. She notched four top-ten finishes at the WPIAL Championship with a high of third in 2007. After finishing fifth in the 2006 Western PIAA Championship, she backed that up with a third place finish this year. In the summer of 2006, Battaglia played in six national tournaments, finishing in the top ten four times.
Battaglia was recently named the Greenburg Tribune Athlete of the Month. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and carries close to a 4.0 GPA. Outside of school, she is also active, having attained a black belt in karate and is an avid snowboarder and skier. She is the daughter of Tom and Connie Battaglia.
"Maria comes with quite a bit of National experience, especially having qualified for the US Girls Am. this summer," Knight-Rowsey said. "She is accustomed to playing a lengthy competitive schedule which should help her adjust well to collegiate golf."
Kaci Boyd comes from nearby Ashland, Kentucky. She attends Russell High School where she serves as her team captain, a position she has held since her Junior year. She recently finished third in the Kentucky Junior Am and 19th at the Bluegrass Tournament at Bellefonte.
Boyd, the recipient of the Camron Weis Memorial Scholarship Award, is a three-time Regional Champion, three-time All-Area Player of the Year and a seven-time All-Area Team Member. At the 2007 State Tournament, she also won the Buick Leachman Leadership Scholarship. Boyd led her team to the title this fall with an even par round of 73 and also finished 13th out of 150 in the state earlier this year.
She is a member of the Beta Club and also a four-year member of the FCA. Boyd also participates in the Senior Salute and is a member of the Praise Band at Church. The daughter of Scott and Angie Boyd carries a GPA of over 4.0.
"Kaci really came on strong this fall in her final High School season. It was one of her best seasons and I believe that will really transition well to college."
"I believe they will each make an immediate impact on this team starting right away in the fall of 08," Knight said. "They fit very nicely with the team returning for next year and we are all very excited for the future of Marshall Women's Golf."
The team will start its spring season on the weekend of March 9 when the Herd travels to Pinehurst, N.C. for the Pinehurst Challenge.
