The Wyoming Cowgirls golf team has seen a boost this season from the addition of sisters Kira and Kiley Reisner, according to an April 20 article. Head coach Josey Stender first recruited Kira Reisner three years ago while she was a standout at Simi Valley High School in Los Angeles. Although initially hesitant, Kira decided to join the program after visiting Laramie with her father, Cory Reisner.
Kira said, “I remember being in my senior year of high school, and I was kind of torn with offers and what to do. My ultimate goal was to make it to the LPGA, and I remember Coach reached out to me, and I was like, ‘I’m going to take a gap year. I’m so sorry. Thank you for your interest.'” She added that after visiting Laramie she “just fell in love” with the area.
After redshirting during the 2023–24 season, Kira became an important part of the lineup for 2024–25. Her younger sister Kiley later joined her on the team following her own recruitment process. Stender said about recruiting both sisters: “They are different, but they also share the same values, commitment level and work ethic… I’ve had multiple sisters in the program over the years… seeing them have their journeys separate yet together.” The family relied on faith throughout their decisions; as Kiley described her commitment: “I told Stender, committed, de-committed from anywhere else and posted on Instagram… They weren’t pressuring me to go here or anything, but I’m sure it made their day to have both their daughters come play together here.”
The Cowgirls’ lineup now includes senior Meghan Vogt, junior Elle Higgins and sophomore Emerson Purcell alongside the Reisners. The team’s record book has been updated several times this season as they prepare for Mountain West Women’s Golf Championships at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
This spring saw notable achievements: Higgins set a new school record for low individual round with a score of 67 at one tournament; Vogt matched that score at another event; while Kiley broke UW’s record for lowest 54-hole score with a total of 207 (-9) earlier this month. She also won medalist honors at two tournaments this season.
Kira praised her sister’s performance: “I knew she was going to come here and kill it, but I didn’t know to this extent… This has been pretty cool to watch.” For Kiley having her sister as a teammate is both motivating and comforting: “Having my sister with me adds pressure and takes off pressure… I’ll watch my sister’s score more than mine sometimes.” Their parents remain actively involved by attending tournaments or following via livestreams.
As Wyoming aims for its first Mountain West title—and an automatic NCAA Regionals berth—the momentum appears strong within the team. Looking ahead toward postseason competition later in May,
Kira said: “The momentum is really rolling for Wyoming… I really think that we’re going to make a run.”
