Although she trailed by two strokes with just two holes to play, she chose to layup on No. 17, knowing not only the tendencies of her competition, but also knowing her skills and the confidence she’s developed in them since turning professional in 2010.

That decision paid off for 2003 Pipestone Area Schools graduate Catrina Allen at the final round of the 2021 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships, presented by Grip6, in Ogden, Utah, June 22-26, not only in gaining monetary dividends of $10,000 awarded the winner, but more importantly for the Prodigy Disc-sponsored athlete, providing her with the means to model behavior within the sport she adores.

“I just want to show the world and the young up-and-coming women in this sport what an athlete is; it’s about hard work, making sacrifices, it’s going to bed early, instead of, maybe, going out and hanging out … wanted to show the sport what an athlete looks like,” said Allen, during the acceptance speech of her second Pro Disc Golf World Championship victory. “I knew that she (runner-up Paige Pierce) had double bogeyed it (No. 17), pretty much, every time she’d played it, so I thought, ‘don’t force it, pick up the stroke here and do what you’ve been doing on No. 18.’ I just didn’t feel it was necessary to get two strokes there.”

A wise decision, among many the winner of the same tournament in Portland, Ore. in 2014 has made over the years. Of course, in 2014 the purse was meager to that of 2021, demonstrating just how far Allen’s game has come, especially for women, since initially being regarded as a weekend/leisure/recreation activity. 

A professional since 2010 and part of the first sponsored team (Prodigy Disc) that offered a salary/stipend to its athletes, Allen helped bringing legitimacy to the sport by doing many of the things athletes do in the major sports.

Pipestone Area Schools graduate (2003) Catrina Allen smiles at the gallery following her second career Pro Disc Golf World Championship, June 26 in Odgen, Utah. Allen, who has been a professional disc golfer since 2010, has won 171 of 342 events over the course of her career. Disc Golf Pro Tour

“When I first got into it, many people playing didn’t take it seriously; for some, it was a weekend thing, time off from other things and they kind of looked down at the rest of us who did take it seriously,” said the two-time women’s World Champion, who has also played in many tournaments in European countries circling the Baltic Sea – as well as in the Czech Republic. “Lots of us, Ricky Wysocki, my boyfriend (and teammate) Austin Hannum and I (among them) pride ourselves on trying to change the way people see our sport, the integrity and professionalism of it and all the things – taking care of our bodies, our health, our diets and our training methods – involved in being a disc golf pro. And we want to do it the right way.”

The right way.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Allen has always had everything figured out herself. In fact, the winner of 171 events out of 342 in her career recently underwent some changes of her own to help her stay on top of her game, while also battling those things outside of her control – such as social media.

“Last year I changed my diet, dealt with some anxieties and some issues that were going on, on the course; I started running for the mental aspects of the exercise and yeah …  continued to put in a lot of hard work,” she said. “I really think it comes down to discipline. Since December, I’m in the gym, come back, keep to my diet, and it’s been life-changing. No matter what’s going on, I stick with my routine, and that’s helped so much. Every day, getting in that same mindset helps with consistency, in all things; it’s helped with confidence and the mental side.

And with Twitter, Facebook and other social means of communication in their infancy when she began, the current influx of verbiage via such platforms would certainly give Allen cause to cave under the criticism of the multitude of strangers who simply enjoy … failure.

 “In the off-season, I worked on realizing those negative comments are just unhappy people; the majority want you to succeed, and … who cares, really?” said Allen, who touts the examples set by ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, public speaker, and author David Goggins. “He’s been huge; I look up to him and he’s had a big influence on my life. He’s big on quieting mind. Getting my mind away from disc golf, when I have the opportunity has been very good for me – just quieting things outside of the sport. It’s hard, but it allows me to relax. I tended to overthink things, but now I get a game plan and stick to that game plan. No matter what happens, there are 20-something more tournaments to go. ‘Who cares?’ As silly as that sounds, it was kind of my motto for a lot of this season. I wasn’t going to allow any of that to enter my mind, take up my mental space; I focused on those positive things in my life – working to be better at disc golf and a better person in life.”

Catrina Allen is featured in this advertisement for her 2X World Champion line of discs her sponsor, Prodigy Disc, recently put out in honor of her triumph in Utah. Prodigy Disc

Which, in speaking with Allen and those she grew up with in Pipestone, might seem a difficult task. An athlete with both natural ability and vision in every sport she competed in, Allen has epitomized teamwork. 

“‘Cat’ was always somebody who was uplifting, a workhorse and she had that competitive drive from the moment I knew her,” said Pipestone Area volleyball teammate Jamie (Claussen) Juhl, who went on to play volleyball at Boise State University and coach the Arrows’ varsity squad for five seasons. “I also ran track with her, competed at the state level in some relays, and she was always cheering on other people. She’s not selfish by any means, always wanted the best for others and would do whatever she could to make the team better.

“I’m not surprised by her success, not at all. She always had that drive and, if she wanted something she’d go after it. It’s been fun to see her progress and see her be so successful.”

Success Carrie (Leddy) Smith, Allen and Juhl’s varsity volleyball coach from 2000-2003, isn’t surprised by either. Quite proud of Allen’s accomplishments, as well, Smith just knew Allen was going to ‘make it’ and … ‘go places’ no matter what she chose to do.

“She could have been a bowler, a skateboarder, whatever; she just has a natural athleticism; yup that’s Catrina,” said Smith, who’s followed the ‘free spirit’s’ disc career. It doesn’t surprise me that she picked up this sport and has excelled.

“She was always disciplined and focused, wanted to win and didn’t like to lose. Catrina was a passionate kid, but also very kind and a very loyal teammate, as well.”

Athleticism and loyalty that has allowed Allen to not only make a name for herself, but also pay the bills in a sport that has its tour participants on the road for 10 ½ months. Beginning as early as late January, in the country’s southwest states, moving to the west coast and through the Midwest before wrapping up the nearly yearlong tour in the Carolinas in mid-November, Allen was thrilled when she was offered the opportunity to earn a living in the sport.

 Originally somewhat of an afterthought and signed last minute, in conjunction with her ex-husband inking in 2013, Prodigy Disc offered Allen a contract to play disc golf on the tour – the first time in the sport any company stretched their neck out for a female player. Although she’d been playing with Discraft discs, this was an opportunity for Allen to focus on playing rather than worrying about paying her way across the country, and abroad, while honing her skills. Allen has been loyal to Prodigy Disc ever since, although she is still extremely close to Discraft Vice President Mike Wagner.

Catrina Allen, a 2003 Pipestone Area Schools graduate, competes at the Pro Disc Golf World Championships, June 24-26 in Odgen, Utah. Disc Golf Pro Tour

 “It was a ‘yeah, we’ll take her’ kind of thing … funny now,” said Allen, who received shares in Prodigy during the initial years with the brand. “It’s funny because this weekend (July 23-26) we’re playing in Michigan and staying with Mike and another friend; and he runs Discraft, a huge disc golf company. I remember before making the announcement, I said, ‘you have this big house and beautiful boat, and I want to have you come to my big house and be on my beautiful boat someday. Prodigy has been with me through my first championship, all the highs and lows and they’ve given me, as a female professional, the same number of opportunities (as the men). It’s been great and I’ll probably be with them forever.”

Much like her many Pipestone supporters, who were there for her as a youth, offering Catrina and her sister Caitlyn uncompromising friendship and guidance while the girls were being raised solely by mom – Cathy Arant. 

“I know Cathy busted her butt for her girls and did everything she could to be at all of Catrina’s games – gave them both as much support as she could,” Smith said. “Absolutely, Catrina developed her work ethic from seeing how hard her mother worked for them.”

The Ludolphs, Mike and Sharleen, daughter Shelly (Ludolph) and her husband Derek Hennager, Emily and Jeff Speer, Becky and Roy Walters and Naomi Lorenzen were there at the beginning too, through Allen’s youth, and continue to be her closest local friends and loyal supporters. They’re her people, her family outside of the disc golf folk, and the group Allen flocks to when she’s back in town – often visiting and staying with them during the winter holiday months.

As for her hard-working mother, who modeled the drive and determination that has served the 35-year-old Allen extremely well in her endeavors, Arant made the trip to Ogden in June to watch her daughter claim her second world crown.

“She made the drive out in one day and we got to spend the day before (the tournament) together,” Allen said. “In years past I’ve overprepared … too many practice rounds and would be tired before the tournament even started. So, it was good to spend the day with her, have coffee, go shopping. She was my caddie/support system, although she saw I was in the zone and just kind of stayed back and let me do my thing. I was happy she could make it; that was awesome!”

Similar to ball golf, disc golf has caddies too, although Allen has never been too fond of having one – for various reasons. Initially, it was the expense; however, despite her blossoming success that has her name on the tongues of countless young, up-and-coming women in the sport, Allen doesn’t necessarily like the ‘distraction’ that can often accompany the addition of a caddie.

“I really make sure, before a tournament, to have a really good game plan on each course and I already know what I’m doing coming down the stretch,” she said. “Sometimes, I feel, because I played so many years without one and not really close with them, I don’t need one. And they don’t know my game. I have certain tournaments where I have people caddie for me, but it’s very rare.”

And certainly, Allen has Hannum – with whom she lives and trains with in Scottsdale, Ariz. – to bounce ideas off of and help develop said game plans before the pair roll up in their truck and trailer to sign in for tour events. Himself and eight-year disc golf professional, Hannum recently placed sixth at the Portland Open, presented by Dynamic Discs, June 4-6 in Portland, Ore. And like Allen, Hannum not only plays with Prodigy Disc, but he too has a signature series line of discs that help net the couple additional funds in the way of royalties.

As for the discs themselves, they’re as specialized as the clubs ball golfers use. Drivers, hybrid drivers, mids, approach discs and putters are all available to the athletes, who can use as many discs as they can physically tote around a course. Prodigy’s forward thinking that, after the ‘D’ for driver designation, simply gives a number to each disc that follows, makes it equally easy for the pro and beginner to find and sort out the tools of the trade.

“Prodigy is one of the first companies to name things like that, which has made it easier for people getting into the sport,” Allen said. “You can try a different number, up or down, depending on how they’re working for you. Most weigh between 130 grams to 175, and the lighter ones don’t perform well in the wind … get pushed around. But more important than how much a disc weighs, is how a particular discs fly.”

And Allen, who has netted $30, 914, so far, this season, knows a thing or two about performance in various conditions and terrain. Although often competed on the same courses ball golfers play, disc golfers perhaps see even more varied conditions, both in weather and terrain, over the course of a tour. And considering a tournament could have as many as seven rounds, and an additional final, knowing exactly what to expect from one’s equipment can make all the difference.

“On ball golf courses we actually see the bunkers as hazards, but otherwise we’ll have man-made out-of-bounds that are painted lines or designated by flags,” Allen said. “We see elevated baskets (cups) or they’ll put them on sides of hills – so it depends. In Michigan, this weekend, we’re playing on a course that follows a toboggan run, a lot of up-and-down.  And with the hills you have to figure aim and how the disc flies up-and-down as you’re moving forward. You’re shooting blind sometimes and the rounds can become quite long.”

And, unfortunately for most, the elements always put an unforgiving spin on the proceedings.

“Wind is a huge factor; in 2012 I really needed to figure out how to play well in windy conditions,” Allen said. “But once you learn it, it can be very helpful and an advantage on some holes and shots. Rain is probably my least favorite, mostly because of the different surfaces of the tee pads we throw from – cement, rubber mats all different kinds of stuff. If they’re not a good surface, it can be really tough to deal with … slipping, grip and all of that, and you have to be a little bit softer and smoother with your feet on those pads. You quickly start getting in survival mode rather than attack mode.”

Attack mode doesn’t necessarily mean going for broke on every shot, and Allen continues to uncover how best to balance the physical with the mental aspect of her game. After all, she’s been diligently introspective since taking up the sport in 2009.

“Back in the day, in Pipestone, all those sports volleyball, basketball and track, JO (Junior Olympic) volleyball, really helped me, especially the five years I coached JOs … learned how to break the game down,” she said. “When I first started disc golf, I’d throw back-and-forth in a field; little did I know just how beneficial that would be. Kind of like hitting the range in golf. I could go out in an hour and throw hundreds of shots, whereas playing a round it took a couple of hours to throw 18 tee shots and maybe …  who knows how many more shots? I would set up drills for myself, pick a spot, grab all of my approach discs and throw as many of those as I owned … go on to each basket and try to make the putt. I only knew how to practice like that, so that’s what I spent my time doing, as opposed to playing rounds.”

And any coach of any sport will tell you that repetition and the development of muscle memory, the likes of which Allen learned in her youth through self-discipline, is invaluable.

Putting that to the test once more in Ogden, Allen not only proved how important her approach to training can be, but she took center stage in inviting young women to follow suit and realize their dreams. 

“I wanted to win by hard work and discipline, and taking the high road – doing it with integrity,” she said. “This one was a really big one for me. I wanted to show disc golf community and the many up-and-coming kids what hard work and all those things can do. You think about all the early mornings in the gym, all the practice time, and to see it come to this has been wonderful … all the support and the fans there with me has made it special.”

Familiar fans cheering her on … along with some watching from afar that Allen will likely never know.

“My mom camps down in Yankton, S.D. and this guy was watching disc golf on TV; they (my family) were cheering for her, saying, go Cat, go,” Juhl explained. “This guy was like, ‘do you know her on that type of level? Yeah, she played sports with my daughter.’ It was fun to see all these people we didn’t know cheering her on and seeing how excited they got. Cat’s really made a name for herself, and she’s truly genuine; you can see her after a long time, go have a coffee and pick up right where you left off.

“And she always wants the best for everybody.  As long as I’ve known her she’s wanted to compete and make those around her better. She’s truly showing that, and she continues to be an outstanding role model for young women.”