SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art women's golf Head Coach Beth Allen has announced an incoming member to the 2025-26 season, welcoming Cassandra Contreras (Goodyear, Ariz./Central Methodist) to the squad.

"We are thrilled to welcome Cassandra to the ART U family," Allen said. "As a graduate student, she will bring valuable maturity and leadership to our team. I've had the privilege of getting to know her over the past couple years, and I have no doubt she will be a fantastic teammate and a tremendous asset to our program."

Soon to be the eldest member of the ART U squad coming in as a graduate student, Contreras joins the Knights after playing collegiate golf for Central Methodist before attending Arizona State. In addition to winning the 2021 Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament as an individual, Contreras was named as the Heart Golfer of the Year in the same season. Contreras finished in the top 10 in all eight of CMU's tournaments that year, including a first place finish at the Evangel Invitational and second at the MVC Invite. In her time at Central, Contreras was named the Heart Women's Golfer of the Week on three different occasions, the NAIA Champion of Character, earned a Heart of America All-Conference honor, and was a NAIA National Qualifier while being team captain.

Contreras, who hopes to work in an architectural firm after her time in the Academy of Art School of Architecture, is the first announced member of the ART U women's golf 2025-26 signing class.