White County Girls Golf Head Coach Eric Mitchell uses his 25 years of coaching to help coach the team and his own game.
Mitchell initially did not play golf until after his tenure began in Loudon in 2001. Mitchell began to practice after taking the role at White County in 2015. Mitchell said one key component makes golf games improve.
“You got to play all the time and you got to practice and you can’t take days off,” Mitchell said. “The other three girls, it’s a hobby to them. They practice a lot, they play a lot.”
Mitchell said the four girls go to swing coaches and ask for advice. The swing coaches work on changing the form a golfer has, as well as the distance per drive or putt. Mitchell said the girls have paid attention to the advice, and it shows in their games.
“They’ve had some good rounds here at Sparta,” Mitchell said. “[But] if we shoot in the high 80s, we win. They’ve all got the potential.”
The Warriors are 8-6 when shooting 90 or below in the past two seasons. White County will look to shoot those low scores in a new district this season. The Warriors will face off against Bledsoe County, Marion County, and South Pittsburg. The Warriors will travel further away from the Upper Cumberland for most of their district matches.
“It’s kind of strange to us driving all the way down there,” Mitchell said. “But we really have a good shot if we do what we’re supposed to do to win the state title.”
Addison Dodgen returns for her senior season. Riley Hudson, a junior, also returns. Lindsey Golden enters as the only freshman on the team. White County will look to head back to the state championship for the first time since 2017.