Owasso Girls Golf
By Katelyn Fisher
The Owasso girls' golf team has started off their season with success thanks to Coach Johnson. With two second-place finishes at both their home tournament and at the region preview, Coach Alexis Johnson has high hopes for Regionals and State. Coach Johnson is the head girls’ golf coach and has worked hard with each of the team members to get them to where they are now.
Coach Johnson states, “We have the capability to perform really well at Regionals and State. I think if we play our best we are definitely a Top 4 team in the state.”
Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do, and it's no different for Coach Johnson. Coach Johnson fell in love with the sport of golf early on and began her career at the age of 12, later continuing on to play at Northeastern State University. She was also on the Owasso Lady Rams golf team when she attended school here.
Coach Johnson expresses, “I’m a big believer in self-growth and being a lifetime learner, and I am always trying to learn better ways to coach and be a great leader. I want to be able to share those things with my players and hopefully be a positive influence in their lives.”
She coaches golf to help other girls improve their abilities and compete at the next level. By coaching high school golf, Coach Johnson continues her golfing career while giving her team valuable life lessons that will go beyond high school. She wants the girls to have mental and physical confidence in their abilities, as well as grow as a person and as an athlete.
Coach Johnson explains, “I coach golf because I love the sport, and I want to help girls be successful in golf, help them learn to achieve goals and hopefully encourage them to play golf for a lifetime.”
When looking for golfers, Coach Johnson wants more than just natural talent. She looks for players who are coachable, who have good attitudes and who want to be there because of their love for the sport. With these qualities, Coach Johnson firmly believes that her team will be successful throughout the rest of their season and into State.
“I think for someone to be a good golfer, they have to be coachable, willing to work hard, be confident and be strong mentally,” she explains, “Golf requires a lot of different skills, and there is always something to work on, improve or learn.”
While golf may seem like a rather relaxing sport, it can be quite the opposite while in the middle of a tournament. On average, high school golf tournaments last anywhere from four and a half hours to six hours, with up to 18 different teams competing. On top of that, each golfer must compete by themselves in a group of other schools. For example, a team could consist of one Owasso golfer, one Bixby and one Jenks.
Coach Johnson states, “It is also mentally grueling. You are playing by yourself for 5 hours and have to make decisions about your game (like what club to hit, what the wind is doing, hit a high or shot, etc.) and control your emotions all at the same time.”
Photo taken by Katelyn Fisher
Even though it can be a tough game, the golfers still find joy in their sport. Having something other than school is important for many teenagers. It allows them to focus on something they enjoy or acts as a distraction from everyday problems. Coach Johnson makes sure that all of her golfers feel comfortable and wanted on her team so that they can have fun while improving their golfing abilities.
Coach Johnson expresses, “I want to give my players a positive experience and be someone they can rely on for feedback and encouragement.”
As their season moves forward, the Lady Rams golf team will continue to put in the work required to succeed at state. Their dedication will hopefully pay off in the end, and they can finish their season with a victory.