LARAMIE, Wyo. (Nov. 10, 2017) -- Cowgirl head golf coach Josey Stender announced Friday that three golfers have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and golf career at the University of Wyoming beginning in the fall of 2018. Joining the squad will be Cristiana Ciasca (Draper, Utah), Samantha Hui (Kennewick, Wash.) and Michelle Nguyen (Phoenix, Ariz.).
 
"I am ecstatic about this signing class and the championship level experience they will immediately bring to the program," Stender said. "Each of these young ladies have a tremendous desire for competitive success and work ethic in the class room and on the golf course."
 
Cristiana Ciasca | Draper, Utah | Corner Canyon HS
Ciasca hails from Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah. She is a four-year letterwinner in golf at Corner Canyon, where she was a three-time All-State and All-Region selection. She led her team to a state championship during her sophomore and junior campaigns. After a regional individual championship her freshman year, she then led her team to a regional championship during both her sophomore and junior seasons. Additionally, Ciasca qualified for the Girls Junior PGA Championship in 2017 and recently finished 17th in the Utah Women's Open and tied for 13th at the Utah Women's Amateur.
 
She is a High Honor Roll member, a Club Officer for SkillsUSA and on the leadership Council while at Corner Canyon. Ciasca was born in Red Bank, N.J., and is the daughter of Michael and Nance Ciasca. She was also recruited by Montana State, Weber State, Utah Valley and Denver. She plans to study communications while at UW.
 
Coach Stender on Ciasca: "Cristiana is very strong both mentally and physically which will help her transition to the collegiate game very easily. She also brings an infectious, great positive energy we are excited about."
 
Sam Hui | Kennewick, Wash. | Southridge HS
Hui will join the Cowgirls after a successful high school career at Southridge High School in Kennewick, Wash. She is a four-year letterwinner in golf and three-time team captain. Hui was named the Mid-Columbia Conference Player of the Year after both her sophomore and junior seasons. She led the team to a state championship during her sophomore campaign and at state, Hui finished in fourth-place as a freshman, eighth as a sophomore and third during her junior season. Furthermore, she holds a 75.3 scoring average, finished in second-place at the 2017 Washington Junior Golf Association State (WJGA) Championship and third in the 2016 WJGA Championship.
 
She is a member of the National Honors Society and Honor Roll, as well as a Southridge Student Ambassador. Hui was born in Richland, Wash., and is the daughter of Raymond and Lena Hui. She was also recruited by Eastern Washington, Whitman, Concordia, Western Washington, Boise State and Seattle U. She plans to major in speech, language and hearing science while in Laramie.
 
Coach Stender on Hui: "Sam has a very well rounded consistent style of play. She is extremely disciplined and goal oriented which has helped her become one of the top players in the Northwest." 
 
Michelle Nguyen | Phoenix, Ariz. | Sandra Day O'Connor HS
Nguyen is a four-year letterwinner out of Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix, Ariz. She was the team captain this past year and named the Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2016, in addition to a ninth-place finish in 2015. She won her first JGAA event of 2017 by taking home top honors at the BMO Invitational and took second place individually at the Division I State tournament a week ago. Additionally, she has a 76.5 scoring average and was the JGAA No. 1 ranked junior for the class of 2018.
 
Nguyen was inducted into the Society of Female Scholars, is a member of the Spanish Honors Society and an Honor Roll member. She is the daughter of Liem and Eileen Nguyen and has 11 siblings, Nathalie, Stefanie, Liam, John, Anthony, Thomas, Nicholas, Joseph, Peter, Jennifer and Steven. She plans to study criminal justice while at UW, and was also recruited by Buena Vista, Grand Canyon and Bellevue.
 
Coach Stender on Nguyen: "Michelle has developed very quickly into one of the top players in Arizona. Her athleticism and coachable attitude fits in well with our team culture."