By: Carter Gribble and Luke Hardy
O'Dea Golf is showcasing improvement, not just on the scorecard, but also within the team's culture itself.
Doug Porter assumed the coaching role this year after Tyler McLaughlin decided to part ways with O'Dea. In addition to McLaughlin's departure, the renowned O'Dea state roster lost three out of its five players.
This year, many are eager to fill those roles, making it an exceptionally crucial year for O'Dea golf development.
O'Dea has maintained a golf powerhouse for the past 6 years, but unfortunately, it has experienced a dip this year due to the departure of graduated seniors.
While changes this significant often create heated competition, it has, as sophomore John Pokorny puts it, "brought the boys together."
The Irish are well into the season, having won one match against Lakeside in their season opener and tying with Eastside Catholic at 140 to 140.
The remaining matches are sprinkled with career highs and lows. However, spirits remain high despite the uncharacteristic record.
Two pizza parties have already been enjoyed as a result of two rounds posted under par. This is one of the new reward systems implemented by Coach Porter.
Furthermore, every birdie carded by an Irish golfer earns them a king-sized candy bar. These fresh incentives not only boost team morale but also help the golfers maintain a positive outlook even on challenging days.
This is just one of the many improvements the golf team has made this year. In past years, the scorecards were impressive, but morale was lacking.
It's easy to become fixated on golf results, so Porter is diligently reinforcing this positive morale, with the hope that it remains high and that the scores continue to improve.
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