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Verdigris’ Grace Rodery – Golf Spotlight Presented by Roberts Auto Group
- Updated: June 6, 2019
Recent Verdigris High School graduate Grace Rodery played golf all four years of high school after her father got her interested in the sport. She says that competing for a small high school meant that there was plenty of support to go around, which she appreciated.
“Coming from a small town, I experienced so much support from my community, which I greatly appreciate,” said Rodery. “Even though my school is small, I still always competed to be the best I could be.”
Her final season might not have been exactly what she expected but Rodery worked hard and made her way to the state tournament, with a few highlights along the way.
“This season was one of my harder seasons as an individual,” she said. “All my other years playing golf we were good enough to make state as a team. This year, I was going to have to make state as an individual. Thankfully, I worked hard enough to make it back to state. Throughout this season, I was able to shoot in the 80’s multiple times and at state, I shot my best nine ever.”
Rodery has looked up to her brother as an example of hard work and determination, in athletics and in everyday life.
“My brother is my role model,” she said. “He and I are very much alike. He is a very hard worker in not only his sport, but also his academics, and everything else in his life. He has always pushed me to be a better person, Christian, student, athlete, citizen, friend, & much more.”
Having a good role model can make a world of difference, and for Rodery, it is part of what motivates her to strive for her best.
“I am a very competitive person, thanks to my brother,” she said. “I have always been motivated to be just like him and be successful just like he was and is. I am also always looking for ways to better myself as a person and in golf there is always something to perfect.”
Rodery stayed involved in her high school by being the girls basketball manager, class secretary, in student council, national honors society, a Bible study leader, and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leader. Now that she’s graduated, her plans are to attend Arkansas Tech University to major in Nursing.
“After that, I plan to go wherever God leads me, glorifying Him the whole way,” she said.