PULLMAN, Wash. – Three incoming student-athletes signed financial aid agreements to compete for Washington State Men’s Golf beginning in the 2027-28 season, Head Coach Dustin White announced Wednesday as part of National Signing Day. The Cougar signing class consists of a pair of Washington natives, Ethan Schwan and Ryan Howe, alongside freshman John Gilbert from Helena, Montana.
John Gilbert | Helena, Montana
John Gilbert is an incoming freshman golfer from Helena, Montana. A 2027 graduate of Capital High School, Gilbert is a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain with the boys' golf team.
Gilbert was named All-State and All-Conference in each of four high school seasons and earned Academic All-State and Academic All-Conference honors. Gilbert also recorded the lowest stroke average on the team all four years and won the 2025 AA state championship.
Academically, Gilbert will graduate with a 3.8 GPA and as a member of the National Honor Society. Gilbert also occasionally participates in chess club. Gilbert intends to study sports management and hopes to become a golf professional. Gilbert’s family includes parents Katie and Andrew, and younger brother Matt.
Ryan Howe | Cheney, Washington
Incoming freshman golfer Ryan Howe hails from just up the road in Cheney, Washington. Howe played four years of varsity golf, serving as team captain each year, and three years of varsity basketball, including one year as captain at Cheney High School.
On the golf course, Howe earned Greater Spokane League First Team honors as a freshman and sophomore. The team reached the state tournament during Howe’s freshman year and placed third during sophomore year. As a junior, Howe was named GSL MVP and helped the team win the WIAA 3A state championship and the Academic State Championship. Howe also earned Honor Roll recognition in both golf and basketball during each of those three seasons.
Howe will graduate with a 3.9 GPA and served as a Cheney High Link Crew leader. Howe’s mother, Brenda, played golf at Eastern Washington University, and sister Lauren competed in swimming at Cal State Bakersfield.
Ethan Schwan | Sammamish, Washington
Ethan Schwan is a Washington native and incoming freshman golfer from Sammamish out of Skyline High School, where he earned four varsity letters and served as team captain during his junior and senior years.
Schwan earned KingCo Player of the Year honors as a freshman and sophomore, finished among the top five at state as a freshman, and won the individual state title as a sophomore and junior. He was named First Team All-KingCo as a junior and won the district individual title as a senior, shooting an 8-under 64 in the first round. Across his high school seasons, he set school records for season scoring average, lowering the mark to 34.8 strokes, and for lowest individual round, with a 30. His additional honors include the 2026 Washington State Boys Juniors Player of the Year award, the 2026 Pacific Northwest Junior PGA Championship, Washington State 4A state titles in 2025 and 2026, the 2026 WJGA Players Open Championship, and a top-10 finish at the 2026 Washington Men’s Amateur.
Schwan also recorded two AJGA top-three finishes and a sixth-place finish as a freshman, along with a win at the WJGA Eastern Open. As a sophomore, he added two AJGA top-10 finishes. He graduated with a 3.9 GPA and also enjoys skiing and mountain biking.