(Editor's note: MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – Revealing his cast of signings for the 2021-22 school year on Monday, Montana State University Billings women’s golf head coach Jeff Allen introduced four future Yellowjackets.
“This is an exciting group joining MSUB women’s golf,” Allen said. “All four of these ladies are great students and have experienced a lot of success on the golf course in their young careers. What is most exciting is the potential that all of them have with their golf game. They all add great depth to the women’s roster and are all players with great work ethics who will continue getting better. They will be great contributors to the program for years to come in the classroom, the community, and on the golf course.”
Meilyn Armstrong | Hometown: Billings, Montana | Previous School: Skyview High School
A hometown signing for the Yellowjackets, Armstrong already has years of experience on MSUB’s home of Lake Hills Golf Course. She competed as a letterwinner for the Falcons for all four of her prep seasons under head coach Kurt Wohler. Armstrong also holds a personal best single-round score of 73. She co-captained the Falcons, and was a two-time academic all-state selection as well.
Coach Allen on Armstrong: “Meilyn has improved more in the last few years than any player I have ever seen. Her keys to success have been very simple: Hard work. She has dedicated herself to the game and that improvement has shown drastically. I know that she will continue with that work ethic and will become a great contributor to the program. She is the daughter of a PGA Professional and has the resources and motivation to keep improving. It’s exciting to add another local talent and great student like Meilyn to the program.”
Armstrong on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I have heard great things about the coach and the campus. With the campus being so small, I love that it feels more like a family instead of just a school. I am excited that I get to play the sport I love while being able to improve my game and technique. It is close to home as well, so I can see my family and friends.
Sierra Brubaker | Hometown: Riverton, Wyoming | Previous School: Riverton High School
Brubaker was a four-year letterwinner in golf under head coach Lars Flanagan at Riverton High School, and is coming off a highly successful fall 2020 season in which she won five tournaments. She was the back-to-back Class 3A East Conference individual champion as a junior and senior, and was a three-time all-state performer with her highest-ever state finish being second place.
In 2019, Brubaker helped lead her team to the Wyoming Class 3A state title, and she was a three-time all-conference golfer as well. She finished as the runner-up at the WSGA Tournament of Champions held in 2020. Academically, Brubaker was a National Honor Society designee and a member of the leadership team.
Coach Allen on Brubaker: “Sierra has had a lot of success at the high school level both individually and with her team. She is definitely a player that will continue to improve very quickly. She’s a three-time all-state player in Wyoming and finished in the top-five of the 3A state tournament each of those years. She is another very athletic player that has the length and type of game that will transfer well to the college level. She’s motivated in her pursuit of a business degree and will add to the academic success that our women’s program has experienced in the GNAC. It’s very exciting to have a person and a player like Sierra joining the women’s golf program at MSUB.”
Brubaker on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB for a few reasons. First, MSUB has an excellent business administration program which is what I intend to study. Next, I really like the campus and facilities. I like that it is a four-year school with a small school feel. Finally, Coach Allen had a huge impact on my decision to attend and play golf for MSUB. Coach Allen's professionalism/expertise made me want to play golf for him and be a part of the MSUB golf program.”
Adessa Lundberg | Hometown: Lovell, Wyoming | Previous School: Lovell High School
Lundberg was a four-year letterwinner on the golf team, placing in the top-10 at the state tournament in all four of her prep seasons. Her final year, Lundberg took third place at the state tournament while shooting a personal-best low-round score of 81. She also helped lead the team to its first state title in school history, and became the first player in program history to earn all-state honors four times.
As a junior, Lundberg placed second in her conference and sixth in the state, while earning an invitation to the NHSGA tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Her first national tournament invitation came her sophomore year, after she placed third at state and was named her team’s MVP. Lundberg is a three-year member of her school’s National Honor Society, and helped her team earn the distinguished merit award for its grade point average.
Coach Allen on Lundberg: “Adessa is an exciting player. She is a multi-sport athlete that has the raw talent and ability to become a great player. Her work ethic is very evident and can be seen by her rapid improvement in her young career. She is a four-time all-state player in Wyoming 3A, the first to ever accomplish that feat at Lovell High School. She was also a huge factor in winning the first golf team state championship in her high school’s history, a feat that they accomplished in 2020. She is motivated in the classroom and has goals to become a teacher someday, and she will be a great addition to the program.”
Lundberg on choosing MSUB: “The reason why I chose MSUB is because I felt like it was more like home for me. I really enjoyed the campus when I visited and felt like the education department would give me the needed experience to become the best teacher I could be. I felt that Coach Allen was going to be able to get the most out of me as a golfer and I am very excited to compete at the DII level. It will give me a great opportunity to push myself while also being able to make some great friends. I grew up going to Billings and really love the feel of the city. It will be great to have family close. I can't wait to start competing for MSUB.”
Karissa Tranas | Hometown: Gillette, Wyoming | Previous School: Thunder Basin High School
Tranas brings four years of high-school success to the Yellowjacket program, after a decorated career on the course with the Bolts. She has recorded 18 top-five finishes as an individual and has helped her team to 15 tournament wins throughout her prep career. Tranas made it to the national tournament in 2020 and projects to be a qualifier again in 2021, while holding a personal-best single-round score of 71.
Tranas was a two-time all-state selection and three-time all-conference selection as well.
Coach Allen on Tranas: “Karissa is a great student-athlete that has a clear plan for what she wants to pursue with her education. She has paved the way for girls’ golf at Thunder Basin High School as she will be a part of their first graduating class in 2021. During her time at TBHS she helped lead her team to back-to-back 4A state championships. She’s a two-time all-state player that has some very high-quality individual finishes, and she has played in a wide array of tournaments across the country that have given her valuable experience. She has a great demeanor for the game of golf and enjoys the never-ending pursuit of improvement.”
Tranas on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because of the chance to get to play golf and the amazing opportunities it offers.”
