UIndy golf commit, Anci Dy, caps off special run at Traverse City West
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (BVM) — The Dy sisters have made their name well-known across the state of Michigan over the last several years. Older sister, Anika, was a three-time individual state golf champion at Traverse City West Senior High School, and has gone on to compete at the University of Michigan.
Meanwhile, younger sister, Anci, has followed in Anika’s footsteps, helping lead the Titans to success while also committing to play college golf next fall.
Anci began playing golf alongside her sister around 5 years old. But initially, their love on the golf course was for more than the game.
“My sister got into it first and she was into it for the golf cart,” Anci said. “I just got into it because she got into it.”
Going out to play again and again with their dad, Anci and Anika realized they were both pretty good golfers. The sisters were soon introduced to their swing coach, Scott Wilson, and their games have taken off ever since.
Through the years, Anci has become a strong putter as well as a long-distance hitter. Growing up, she often looked up to LPGA star Paula Creamer.
Of course, it was hard for Anci not to look up to what Anika was doing on the links as well. At Traverse City West, Anika was a three-time individual state champion, a two-time team state champion and was honored with three Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Miss Golf awards.
During her high school years, Anika also qualified twice for the Drive, Chip & Putt finals at Augusta National. In 2019, she medaled at the Michigan PGA Women’s Championship.
“She has such an amazing mental game and she’s so solid around the greens,” Anci said. “Her high school career was really spectacular to watch and it was almost unseen from a northern Michigan golfer before.
“Growing up together and practicing together made us push each other to the limits and made us better golfers and better competitors. She kind of paved the way and helped me with learning the ins and outs of competitions.”
Anika now golfs at the University of Michigan. After limited action as a freshman in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wolverine golfer is ready to emulate her high school success as she continues her college career this season.
Meanwhile, Anci has been able to make her own name for herself on the links. Growing up, she played primarily on the U.S. Kids Golf Tour, and competed in the tour’s world championship several years in a row. Anci also had the opportunity to play in the Optimist International Junior Golf Tournament growing up, as well as several Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) junior events.
By high school, the sisters began competing in United States Golf Association (USGA) events, as well as several American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and PGA junior events.
“Those have been really helpful with recruiting and getting our names out there,” Anci mentioned. “Playing with AJGA especially really just brings people from all over with the highest skill level and it shows you how you stack up against them. It’s a really good measurement of where you stand and always reminds you to keep working and keep improving.”
Anci believes her experience with AJGA and beyond will specifically help her in her collegiate career, which she will begin next fall at the University of Indianapolis.
The 17-year-old began talking with the Greyhounds this past summer, and the relationship between Anci and coach Brent Nicoson took off from there.
“I started looking more at the program and realized this is one of the best DII programs in the nation,” Anci said. “I really want to be part of another team that is committed, wants to work hard and will continue to push me. It also didn’t hurt that it was a little further south than Traverse City and has a little more outdoor golfing time.”
The Greyhounds have won two national championships since 2015, and the success along with the perfect fit once she set foot on campus ultimately led Anci to commit.
Of course, Anci was also looking at local in-state schools, and many predicted that she might go play at the University of Michigan with Anika. However, Indianapolis just seemed to be a better fit for the Traverse City West senior, and she is eager to get started.
“The connection that I have with coach Brent is great and I’m excited for it,” Anci said. “I know that he can coach really great players and I want to be one of those great players. I’m incredibly blessed that I have this opportunity and I feel like I was meant to go there. As a player, I think I’ll be able to take my game to the next level in all aspects.”
While Anci’s bright future awaits with the Greyhounds, her past career at Traverse City West was one to remember. As a freshman, Anci got to play with Anika, watching her sister win an individual state title as she herself placed sixth. The dynamic duo led the Titans to a team state championship as well.
“That was a really big year,” Anci said. “It was different for me initially because I had never played on a team before. But I got to play with a bunch of upperclassmen and learn from them and it almost just humbled me in a way. Being able to play at state with Anika and being able to win with her was just great. We didn’t expect to win that season so when we did, it was just really unforgettable.”
Playing with Anika once again as a sophomore, Anci shared in the joy of her sister winning another state title while improving to a fifth place finish despite a tournament filled with rain, sleet and snow.
“Finishing in the top-five was a really big accomplishment for me personally,” Anci said. “I felt like I fought for that and I earned it.”
As a junior, Anci became the unquestioned leader of the Titans with Anika off to college.
“Junior year was a little bit of a different experience because I knew the pressure was on me a little bit,” Anci added. “I handled it really well I think.”
Anci would go on to win a conference championship, and finish as runner-up individually at state. Her impressive season also had her in the running for the Miss Golf award.
“That second place finish was a little hard for me because I knew I didn’t play my best golf the first day,” Anci said. “I definitely used that finish to tell myself to find a new max and keep pushing my limits.”
Going into her senior season, Anci was poised to have her best year yet. Of course, she initially had doubts that her season would even be played last fall, but thankfully, the Titans’ campaign commenced as scheduled.
With a younger team, Anci took on a leadership role throughout the year. Her consistent play on the course continued, as she went on to win all but three tournaments she played in while finishing fifth at the state tournament. Although disappointed to not come away with an individual state title, Anci was still proud of her overall performance this season considering the unique circumstances — including a one-day state tournament.
Anci’s finish this fall caps off a dominant six-year run by both the Dy sisters that turned the Traverse City West program into a dynasty.
“My sister and I are extremely proud of what we built there,” Anci said. “Through our success, our school also succeeded and so did the community. The junior golf community around here has really grown and seeing a new generation getting involved with the game and fall in love with the game is really cool. We wanted to leave a hard-working kind of legacy and I’m really glad we did.”
Now, it’s time for the sisters to continue to make their impact in college and beyond. Anci believes Anika has a lot of success ahead of her at Michigan, while there is little doubt that she herself can immediately contribute at UIndy as well.
And although Anika likely won’t pursue a professional golf career, Anci is not ready to rule that opportunity out for herself quite yet.
“I’ve definitely gone back and forth with going pro,” Anci said. “For me, the college experience will tell me if that’s a path I should take and I definitely want to if I have the abilities, support and skill for it. I love the game a lot and have been playing it for so long that I don’t want to stop.”
