Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week: Annabelle Williams

Junior, Annabelle Williams is being highlighted as Oswego East’s student athlete of the week. As one of the top four golfers in the program and a dedicated athlete, Coach Brian Chandler felt Williams is a great example of the E.A.S.T. core morals: excellence, academics, spirit, and tradition.

Williams is a junior on the Co-Op varsity girls golf team. Coach Chandler credited her determination and work ethic in bringing her to this level.

“Annabelle is committed to working hard at practices to improve all aspects of her game,” Chandler said. “She's very analytical and thoughtful about her pre-swing process and the ins/outs of her swing.”

Understanding the game has benefitted Williams in her performance and allowed her to set goals for herself. She recognizes the mental aspects of golf and tries to keep a positive mentality no matter her performance.

A goal for myself for the golf season is to keep a positive attitude, even when I'm not performing my best,” Williams said. “I have noticed that since I set this goal, I have been a lot better about not looking down upon myself.”

Annabelle’s parents Greta and Mike Williams also recognize their daughter's hard work on the course to be successful and be a good leader.

“Annabelle is a very social person and likes to make friends,” Greta Williams and Mike Williams said. “In athletics, she is a competitor and pushes herself to be at the top of her game.”

This work ethic and drive are reflected not only through William’s athletics but also in her academic performance. Her current weighted GPA is a 4.2 and she participates in multiple AP and Honors classes.

“Annabelle challenges herself with honors and AP courses and excels in the classroom maintaining a very high GPA,” Chandler said.

She also partakes in multiple clubs and honors societies at the school such as SALT (Student Athlete Leadership Team), French Honors Society, and Key Club. These aren’t the only ways Williams is involved at East as she is a multi-sport athlete and plays for East’s girls basketball team during the winter.

Williams positive mentality and determination is something that makes her a great example and leader for others on her team. The Varsity girls golf team is Co-Op, meaning that players are from Oswego and Oswego East. Coach Chandler recognizes how Williams has been a key player in bringing the team together despite attending different schools.

“It would be easy to find comfort playing/partnering up with other OE golfers but Annabelle is the ultimate teammate,” Chandler said. “She works seamlessly between OE and OHS golfers and epitomizes what we try to represent as a Co-Op which is uniting all our athletes within district 308.”

While golf can be seen as both a team and solo sport the team aspect is something Williams appreciates. It helps her to keep the positive mentality that she uses in her game.

“Golf is such a mentally challenging sport, but being on a team, and that atmosphere helps so much,” Williams said.

Williams started playing golf when she was five years old. Throughout this time, her parents have watched her develop many skills and have even seen lessons from the green carry over into her everyday life.

“In the world of golf, you must be honest and have integrity,” Greta Williams said. “Annabelle follows these rules in all aspects of her life, partly due to her expectations as a golfer.”

The life skills Williams has earned from golf have helped transform her into the strong leader she is today and both her parents and her coaches recognize and applaud her for her leadership qualities.

“We are proud of Annabelle for many reasons, but we are most proud of the strong and confident young woman she has become,” Mike and Greta Williams said. “She doesn't let anything stand in her way of becoming the best version of herself.”

“Annabelle is a great student athlete that everyone wants to play with on match day,” Chandler said. “We're excited to see how she finishes the season and where she can help lead our team in the postseason.”

*This story was written and published by East senior Jordan Fikis.