Courtesy of ESU Athletics
Emporia State’s women’s disc golf team is not only ranked No. 1 in the nation, but also has their very own No. 1 nationally ranked player, Atlanta Krueger.
Krueger is from Callahan, Calif. and a sophomore at ESU majoring in health and human performance. She began playing disc golf when she was about nine or 10 years old, and was initially motivated to start playing because of her father’s passion for it. She did not start getting competitive with the sport until around 2019 and 2020, and joined the ESU disc golf team as a freshman during the 2023-24 school year.
She says her favorite thing about playing her sport here at ESU is the welcoming community, which she loves.
“I have friends everywhere I go thanks to disc golf,” she said.
In January, Krueger and doubles teammate Madeline Joiner brought home an eight stroke win over Clemson at the Florida Collegiate Classic. Krueger is just one of 20 set to represent ESU in April at the disc golf national championships in Rock Hill, S.C. She says she is grateful and enthusiastic for the opportunity to play.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to get out and play again and see all the wonderful ladies I got to compete with last year. I’m looking forward to having fun, playing good golf, keeping my head strong and hopefully coming home with a championship for ESU,” she said.
One of the greatest challenges Krueger has faced in disc golf is her mental game, saying that she’s a competitive person and has to “battle the ups and downs of (her) emotions.” According to her, disc golf is not so much about competing against another person as it is “against yourself and the course.” She is grateful for the many people in her life that have helped her become the No. 1 ranked college disc golf player in the nation.
“I owe my success to the people who taught me how to play and support me through all the ups and downs,” Krueger said. “My parents who drove me to tournaments and made sure I got exposure to competition from a young age, and now I owe a lot of credit to my amazing boyfriend Isaiah Esquivel, also on ESU’s disc golf team and an amazing athlete. He pushed me to be better everyday in life and discgolf, and has really shaped me into the player I am today.”
Krueger shared that her career in disc golf for the next two years will be continued at ESU.
“I hope to keep playing for ESU and competing at a high level. I wouldn’t be able to go to school without the opportunity they’ve given me so I hope to give back and keep playing,” she said.