Jul. 17—Ada High School girls golf coach Ron Anderson said if one flipped the pages of the dictionary to London Wilson, the definition would read something like this: Hardest worker, dedication, determination, loyalty, coachability, love for the game, love for teammates.
Wilson will represent Class 5A on the Oklahoma Coaches Association East All-State girls golf team on July 22 during the All-State matches hosted by the Cherokee Hills Golf Course in Catoosa.
‘I have never had a girl or boy at any level, golf or basketball, work as hard on her skills as London,” Anderson told The Ada News. “Without a doubt, she’s the hardest worker I’ve ever coached at any level and any sport.”
The top two seniors of each class in the state tournament were automatic All-State qualifiers. The other 5A representative is Chloe Henderson of Durant.
A total of 12 girls and 12 boys will represent the East All-Staters competing against the West All-State teams.
Anderson will get one final chance to coach Wilson on the course. He was named the East All-State golf coach and will be in charge of both the girls and boys All-State squads. That means he’ll also get to coach Latta standout Parker Pogue, who will represent Class 3A on the East boys team.
Wilson helped the Lady Cougars to a Top 4 showing at the Class 5A State Tournament this past spring — and Ada was just eight strokes away from a runner-up finish. Ada won a Class 4A state championship in 2023.
“What a career London has had. Beginning her junior year, London rarely finished out of the Top 10 in tournament competitions and won medalist honors in several tournaments,” Anderson said.
Wilson has decided to play college golf for Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford. Incredibly, she didn’t even start playing competitive golf until her sophomore year.
“Her work ethic was noticed by many Oak Hills members at the course, from her teammates and competitors,” Anderson said. “Southwestern will be very fortunate to have London on their team. She may not be their best player starting out, but I can assure you she’ll be their hardest worker.”
Wilson’s time on the golf course did not interfere with her commitment to education as she was involved in many other activities and won several academic awards such as National Honor Society, Book Club, Math Club, Honors Chemistry, Student of the Year, AHS Bonhomie Award, AHS Literati Award, AP Environmental, Science Student of the Year, Rotary Student of the Month and along with her Athletic Scholarship she received an Academic Scholarship at SWOSU.
“I know London is excited about playing in the All-State games, but I can assure you that me and her dad (Curtis) will be just as excited to watch her play in her last high school event,” Anderson said.
“I am so proud of her and very grateful to her family for the support they gave her and our team the past three years,” he continued. “The future of Lady Cougar Golf looks bright because the girls couldn’t have had a better example than London of what it takes to be a champion.”
This will be Anderson’s sixth All-State/All-Star coaching experience. He’s coached in both the boys and girls OCA basketball All-State games, the OBCA/OGBCA All-Star games and this week he’ll coach in his first OCA All-State Golf Games.
In 1986, while he was an assistant coach at Ole Miss, Anderson was chosen as the head coach of the Southeastern Conference All-Stars versus the Atlantic Coast All-Stars.
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Following are the 2024 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Golf Teams. The East will battle the West on July 22 at the Cherokee Hills Golf Club in Catoosa.
EAST GIRLS
Isabella Suttee, Jenks; Peyton Coburn, Bishop Kelley; London Wilson, Ada; Chloe Henderson, Durant; Layne Ailshie, Fort Gibson; Katelyn Rigsby, Fort Gibson; Elle Standlee, Prague; Riley Beeler, Holland Hall; Katey Stemple, Summit Christian; Emily Sloat, Summit Christian; Riley Rinner, Broken Arrow; Stella Caskey, Tishomingo.
WEST GIRLS
Syrah Javedl, Norman North; Meredith Colby, Edmond Memorial; Natalie Blonien, Altus; Allie Justiz, Bishop McGuinness; Kya Lamb, Dickson; Gabby Hack, Marlow; Katie Jo Eisenhauer, OK Christian; Raelynn Dodd, Christian Heritage; Avery Haddack, OK Christian Academy; Jaci Hartman, Turner; Jose Cavitt, Turner; Rylee Roberts, Edmond North.
EAST BOYS
Sam Morris, Jenks; Will Hennessee, Bishop Kelley; Cosby Carter, Cascia Hall; Dax Sills, Collinsville; Connor Whitworth, Poteau; Cayden Sherwood, Cushing; Kaden Risenhoover, Stigler; Preston Whitemarsh, Lincoln Christian; Parker Pogue, Latta; Spencer Bullen, Nowata; Grant Gudgel, Stillwater; Dillon Mackey, Kiefer.
WEST BOYS
Josh Stuart, Norman North; Parker Sands, Edmond North; Parker Payne, Noble; Drew Kennedy, Heritage Hall; Karston Rennie, Pauls Valley; Patrick Coulter, Crossing Christian; Collin Boyd, Community Christian; Bliss Newton, Lone Grove; Carter Ray, Walters; Britt Bailey, OK Christian Academy; Mason Haley, Enid; Hunter Bauman, Edmond North.
