Life, full of surprises, Issue 28
As a Mullen graduate in 2005, she was known as Ashley Tait, one of only two Colorado schoolgirls to finish as medalist three times (it’s now three schoolgirls). She went on to play in college as well as professionally and moved to teaching lessons and heading Mustangs girls golf. Now known as Ashley Tait-Wengert, she shares her thoughts on Mullen Today’s Unordinary Times about quarantine during the coronavirus (COVID-19), how it was for her when she ran into a roadblock in college and what we should look forward to in the future.
On top of everything else with the quarantine, stay-at-home and limited access to businesses, services and recreation, Tait-Wengert is pregnant with her first child. She is able to take maternity leave from the LPGA Symetra Tour and will continue to teach once restrictions are lifted.
Coach Tait-Wengert had a unique start to her college career, which, ironically, is similar to what most student-athletes are dealing with now during the pandemic. She was recruited by Tulane University and her first day on campus involved freshmen orientation, moving into her dormitory … and evacuating from Hurricane Katrina.
She fled to Florida with her golf coach and watched the hurricane rip through New Orleans, eventually flooding the city and campus. Tait-Wengert flew back home to Denver and got a call a few weeks later, informing her she was going to attend SMU while carrying the torch for Tulane and continuing to play golf for the Green Wave program.
The semester at SMU had started three weeks prior, so Tait-Wengert and her Tulane teammates had a lot of catching up to do, including the fact that Tulane had the top-ranked schedule in the nation.
The semester at SMU had started three weeks prior, so Tait-Wengert and her Tulane teammates had a lot of catching up to do, including the fact that Tulane had the top-ranked schedule in the nation.
Tulane cut all nonrevenue sports after one semester, so Tait-Wengert began the recruiting process again in search for a new home in the fall. She landed at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and had a very successful college golf career. She also had a double major in accounting and finance, thanks to the extra year of eligibility.
Said Tait-Wengert: “Life is full of surprises; even the most challenging experiences can teach us resilience, forcing us outside of our comfort zones and helping us to grow.”
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