Sterling Johnson approaches this season with a simple focus that shapes everything she does on the course. “To keep a positive mindset and enjoy the game,” Johnson said of her personal goals.

​She sees something different about this Weatherford girls’ golf group beyond swings and scores. “This year, I feel like our team has built a strong relationship with the Lord and with each other,” she said. That connection has shown up in their progress. “We’ve improved in the game, and our team bond has grown over the offseason,” Johnson said.

The Eagles are chasing both athletic and academic benchmarks. “To qualify for state and to be the Academic State Champions for the second year in a row,” she said of the team’s goals. A veteran senior class gives them a strong foundation. “We have five seniors who have strong potential to break our previous records,” Johnson said.

She tries to model the example that once guided her. “As a senior this year, I try my best to be the senior role model I had as an underclassman,” she said. When she faces a new or difficult layout, her plan is to simplify. “To play my own game and try not to overthink it,” Johnson said.

Her preparation blends rest, routine and faith. “Well, the point is not to have a high number of strokes, but by getting plenty of sleep and by being in a constant state of prayer throughout the day, surrendering the ability he gave me to play for him,” she said. That perspective carries into every round. “To have fun with the girls in my group, play my best, and whatever happens, at least I had fun,” Johnson said of her mindset on the course.

When she leaves Weatherford, she hopes people remember more than numbers on a leaderboard. “A light for the Lord,” she said of the legacy she wants to leave. Johnson added that the program also has a special supporter. “That the lady who works in the clubhouse is the team Grandma, and we’re all of her ‘adopted granddaughters,’” she said.

One day in particular still stands out. “When we won first place in the Western Equipment tournament, my sophomore year,” she said of her favorite memory in a Weatherford uniform.

Off the course, she stays involved across campus and already has her next step mapped out. “I’m involved in Key Club, NHS, FCCLA. I am going to UCO to major in Interior Design,” she said