Although her season came to an end this weekend, Calhoun Academy senior Landry Dishman fondly reflects on her time as a Lady Cougar.
Calhoun Academy advanced to the state tournament but was eliminated short of a state title this past weekend. As the lone senior on this year’s Academy softball team, Dishman found her experience “different,” but she views herself as just another member of the team.
“It’s been different, but I enjoy it,” Dishman said. “Everyone on the team is so close anyway that I never even think about being the only senior.”
Being the team’s only senior this year naturally placed Dishman in a leadership position, something she tried to take advantage of to help her team reach their goals this season.
“I lead with actions instead of words,” Dishman said. “So typically, if I hit, everyone else hits too. If I’m playing well in the field, then they play well in the field.”
Although this success is contagious, Dishman was quick to say it wasn’t just her execution that was important to the team.
“It’s not really just my success,” Dishman said. “If one of us is hitting well, then the rest of us see that and know that we can too. It’s not just me. We’re a team.”
The Lady Cougars started off somewhat slow this season but rode some late success to state, something that Dishman credits to hard work and dedication.
“We picked up a player [Georgia Ellard] that we lost at the beginning of the season, and she has been a big part in helping us,” Dishman said. “We had a meeting and decided that if something didn’t change quickly, we wouldn’t go anywhere in the North Half tournament, so we decided to buckle down and get to work. Our result really show how much we put into getting better.”
The Lady Cougars’ head coach, Justin Nichols, was named “acting head coach” at the beginning of the season but kept the reins of the program throughout the season. Dishman noticed his fire surrounding the program right off the bat.
“Coach Justin stepped in whenever we needed a coach, and I know that it has probably been a challenge, but he has never given up on us,” Dishman said.
Although Dishman is exiting her senior season without a state title, she is pleased with the decision she made to attend Calhoun Academy and make an impact on its softball program.
“I’ve had some ups and downs, but it’s been mostly ups,” Dishman said. “I’m so thankful that I made the decision to move to CA. It has changed my life for the better.”
Calhoun Academy fell in the state tournament to Prairie View Academy (13-5) and Deer Creek (16-6) to end its season, but the Lady Cougars return a stable of young talent to next year’s roster that will be looking to make the tournament once again.