Mannford High School sophomore Lexi Rice is pretty much a natural and gifted athlete. Take for example her decision to join the golf team this year.
“I had never played golf and no one in my family plays golf but last year the coach started talking to me about joining, and I saw how much fun the girls on the team were having so I was like let’s go do it and I really didn’t have any expectations starting out this year. With some help from the coach and the players, plus lots of practice, I made the varsity team this year and I finished 10th in the first tournament I played in.”
In addition to golf, Lexi also plays softball, basketball and soccer, which is what got the attention of golf coach Ottawa Cochran.
“I’ve watched her play her other sports through middle school and last year as a freshman and knew she was someone I wanted in the golf program because I knew she had the mindset to do it,” Cochran said. “So, I’m not surprised that she is succeeding, but I am surprised by how quickly she picked up the game.”
Soccer has been the same way for Lexi as she started to play last year just to stay in shape but quickly grew to love the game and this year she starts in midfield for the Lady Pirates. She grew up in a house where softball and basketball were dominant so she likes them both, although she admits basketball is a slight favorite.
“My dad coached my first softball team until I was 11 or 12 and is still an assistant coach today, and my mom coached my first basketball team until I was about 10. They’re really my role models because they’ve also taught me a strong work ethic and to always finish what you start,” said Lexi, who is also in the student council and National Honor Society at Mannford, shows pigs and sheep in FFA, and is a 4.0 student.