There has been a bit of a quiet revolution underway at Alba-Golden High School. The small country school has always been known for its supportive environment, community involvement and rural values. It is, now, also known for producing an athletics department which is maintaining successful standards across the spectrum of sports. 

Ask athletic director Drew Webster his favorite memories of the past six years at the department, and he will recount that last year 10 of 11 sports played in the post-season.

He will also quickly add that the junior high boys and girls and the high school boys and girls track teams took divisional titles last spring.

“And the junior high boys did it on the final 4 x 400-meter relay,” he added.

His comments reveal something unique about Alba-Golden sports and the youngsters involved in them. The Panthers compete, and they value all competition.

Spending time around the AG sports fields, one gets the sense that it is yet important at AG to be an athlete – not necessarily a specialist in any one sport, but rather an athlete who can compete and frequently win in any contest.    

This perspective was recently illustrated at a summer weight training session. A simple challenge by an assistant coach for an athlete to conduct an event with extra weight morphed into a much more difficult challenge between participants. The challenge then escalated throughout the weight room. The competition took on a life of its own.

Coach Webster will be nurturing that challenging attitude as the 2023 Panthers take to the gridiron this fall. 

The Panthers will have a bit of a new look, with an expanded playbook and the ability to run several variations off of the same base play. 

“We are excited,” Webster commented, “we have as much quality depth at every position as we have ever had, we have some speed, and we have a group of ‘go to’ guys who know how to win.”

Starting his seventh year at the helm, Webster continues to focus on accountability to teammates as the lifeblood of his football program.

“We aren’t changing that one bit, and we aren’t changing our expectations either…however, fans will see a different presentation this year,” he commented.

To make these adjustments on game day  Webster has added a mental acuity component to practice drills. He explained that it isn’t much, but it is enough to keep the squad mentally-focused during physical drills and to force them into making decisions when fatigued.

The four-day school week will have one distinct advantage in football season.

“No longer will we feel rushed when heading out for an away game,” Webster noted.  He explained that it will ease the logistics and better focus the squad on travel days. 

Among the most memorable moments Webster recalled from past campaigns was his first-year, last second win over Honey Grove which earned them a playoff berth.

“That one I’ll never forget,” he remarked.

The Panthers will be looking to replicate that performance, and more, in 2023.