The OHS Golf Team finished their season on October 24th (Girls) and November second (Boys). The Mississippi High School Activities Association underwent a recent change, moving the golf season from the spring to the fall.
In addition to this scheduling difference, the team had a major change in their coaching staff this season as well. Cliff Ormon served as the interim head coach last season on the team’s run for state. This season, the team would bring in Ryne Bankston as the new head coach of the golf team. Bankston has been teaching in the school district as a history teacher for seven years. This was his first year coaching golf.
“This past season has been interesting given all the different variables that were present from the previous season,” Bankston said. “We dealt with a new coach, a new time of year for the season, a tremendous loss of experience, and a lot of kids being thrust into competitive moments that hadn’t previously had to be there. I know that kind of turnover is part of the nature of team sports at this level, but it really was a lot to try to work through, and it will take a lot of patience, discipline, and focus.”
Bankston is pleased with how the team performed this season, given the circumstances and shorter offseason. He knows that there are some more things to be improved for next season.
“Ultimately, this first year produced a lot of things to be proud of,” Bankston said. “The girls’ team made it to state having missed out the year prior, the boys making it to state with an entirely new roster, and both teams laying a baseline for state tournament results to improve on next year. There were plenty of things to be frustrated over and things that will need to be improved upon for year two.”
Senior Captain Landon Atkinson played a prominent role in the boy’s team’s success this year. Serving as the only senior and returning starter, he served as a role model for other new members of the team.
“Being the only senior and returning starter this year was a very difficult adjustment,” Atkinson said. “Then you throw in a new coach and that process becomes even more challenging. There’s no doubt that Coach Bankston did a great job with holding the team together and making it a smooth transition.”
OHS junior Grace Brown is a returning golfer from last year’s girls’ team. The girls’ team qualified for state this season and finished 11th despite not qualifying last season.
“Last year was most of our team’s first time playing golf, including myself, so it was not the best season,” Brown said. “This team was super involved and worked hard to improve for this year. This year, we had a new coach, Coach Bankston, who really made golf a priority.”
Prioritizing a positive mindset has been a big contributor to the improvement of the girls’ team. This team has high hopes for improving their placement at state even more in the future.
“I think I had a good work ethic this year, constantly trying to improve where I really need it,” Brown said. “I also think I had a positive mindset throughout the season, no matter the scores. Overall, it was a huge improvement from last year. I think I had some really good days and some really bad days.”
Bankston is proud of the team and is ready to improve next season.
“Each of the players, and myself as the coach, as well, have to reflect back on this past season and take stock of what we did, how we did it, and see what that way of doing things produced for our team,” Bankston said. “We have to make sure we are honest and clear about what needs to change next year to make sure we are always building this program in the right way.”
