It was a unique recruiting process for Kansas State women's golf coach Kristi Knight in 2007.
For a year, she had her eye on twin sisters and standout golfers Emily and Elise Houtz from just down the road at Manhattan High School.
It was clear that the Houtz sisters possessed the talent needed to play at K-State. The two had accumulated seven All-State nominations and three state championships between them at the prep ranks.
Recruiting siblings wasn't something new to Knight. She had recruited sisters in her previous golf programs, but she had never signed twins before.
The idea intrigued her.
"It was a unique recruiting experience, but a good one." Knight said. "Once I started communicating with them, and got to know their parents, it became evident that it would be good thing to have both of them."
With the signing deadline approaching during their senior year, and programs from Texas and Iowa also expressing interest in the sisters, Emily and Elise decided to stay together and in Manhattan.
"It meant something to us," Elise said. "Not a lot of people get the chance to play for a team they grew up loving."
Emily and Elise found themselves on the K-State golf roster in the fall of 2007 as the only two freshmen on Knight's team. It was an experience that the two quiet, yet competitive sisters found challenging and rewarding.
"It was a little overwhelming at times," Emily said. "Doing it anywhere else would have probably been pretty hard for me."
But the two would find success during their first year in the program. Emily played in two tournaments during her freshman year, and Elise participated in eight tournaments, including a 27th-place finish at the Big 12 tournament.
It didn't take Knight long during their freshman year in the program to realize the competitiveness of Emily and Elise on the golf course and the positive impact it would have on the team. That competitiveness was something that Knight embraced on her squad.
Eventually, it caught the eye's of their teammates as well. It was a quality that led the sisters to become leaders within the program as their sophomore year approached.
"Their teammates watch them and how they carry themselves on the golf course, how they prepare for their golf and how they prepare for their school work." Knight said. "That is leading. You don't have to be standing in front of the team giving a speech. They lead by example."
It was during their sophomore year however that Emily and Elise were presented with another challenge. With the loss of three seniors from the previous season, suddenly the sisters found themselves as leaders of a young team that included four freshmen and no seniors on a roster of eight golfers.
Playing time increased for Emily and Elise, and they have seen their personal best scores improve each season. Experience from their freshmen seasons has clearly benefited them.
Emily set personal bests for a tournament finish and lowest 54-hole scores. Meanwhile, Elise played in all but two tournaments and finished 15th at the Big 12 tournament.
"Last year I was only a sophomore, but I was basically an upperclassmen," Elise said. "That is when I really started to push the other girls and I would say I am feeling that even more this year."
This fall, the sisters feel more entrenched in the program than ever before. Emily has competed in three events and began play on Monday at the Price's Give'em Five Invitational at New Mexico State University. Elise has competed in two tournaments.
With three semesters remaining at K-State, the two sisters have embraced their role within the program and have become comfortable with their position. While they are still quiet there is little doubt they have made an impact on the program.
Photo courtesy of K-State Sports Information
