LAYNE AILSHIE
FORT GIBSON HIGH SCHOOL
Fort Gibson senior Layne Ailshie has been to the top of the competitive mountain. She has been a part of Tiger teams that have been to the state golf tournament all three of her high school years. Individually she won the state championship her sophomore year while finishing second her freshman year and fourth last year. So, what’s left for her to accomplish this senior season?
“It would mean a lot for me to return to state and win the individual title for a second time my senior year, but I really want to be a part of a team that wins the team title this year because we’ve worked so hard,” said Ailshie who is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Her coach, Jordan London, says there have been two big areas that Layne has improved in during the off season that might help her achieve those goals.
“She’s really shown a mental toughness this year that comes with maturity. She’s much better at shaking off stuff that used to fluster her in the past. And she’s also become an even better leader for us by becoming more vocal which hasn’t been easy for her,”
Layne’s parents are both golfers so getting into the game was just natural for her.
“My first swing coach, Maggie Roller, was one of my first role models,” said Layne. “As a leader this year I know I have to be encouraging but also need to be a little more vocal to push each other. We all take criticism from each other really well which helps us become better as a team.”
Athletic highlights usually involve a special moment for the individual, but Layne chose another memory as a highlight for her.
“Last year I wasn’t having a great day but then I heard that Catelyn Rigsby had broken 80 that day and I was so happy for her.”
As a result of her success Layne has had several offers from college coaches but has chosen the University of Central Oklahoma as her next stop.
“UCO was kind of a last-minute visit but I ended up falling in love with the campus and I knew some of the girls on the team and I really liked the coach.”
