LOOKEBA, Okla. — “My personal goals this season are to put more work individually to better myself as an athlete,” Lookeba-Sickles senior Aspen Courtney said, outlining the standard she has set for her final year. A 5-foot-7 multi-sport athlete in fast pitch, slow pitch and basketball, Courtney is also a praise and worship leader with her mom at New Covenant Church in Lookeba and a member of FCA at her high school.
On the field, she said the tone around the Panthers has been clear from the start. “The team morale has been intense,” Courtney said. “We are all very determined, supportive, and we communicate great with each other.” That edge has been boosted by younger teammates stepping into key spots.
Courtney, who locks down shortstop, said the team’s goal is straightforward and demanding. “I think the biggest goal is to work our hardest all season and make it back to the state tournament and we plan to take practice seriously and put the time in to work for that,” she said. Confidence comes from what she sees across the lineup and on defense. “I think having a whole lineup you can trust to get a hit at all times is awesome,” Courtney said. “We also have a solid defense even with our team being pretty young.”
In the batter’s box, she is constantly studying what is in front of her. “I look for the shift that the defense has when I am hitting and where their biggest weakness is,” she said.
Leadership is central to her mindset. “I think about the younger girls watching me and how they look up to me, so I try to do my best and give a lot of effort,” she said. That focus shapes the legacy she hopes to leave. “A legacy I want to leave especially to younger athletes is that hard work and consistency matter more than talent, treat everyone with respect, and handle wins or loses with humility and resilience,” Courtney said. “Most importantly, show strong character on and off the field while inspiring others to be not just a better athlete but a better person.”
Her favorite memory in a Lookeba-Sickles uniform fits the big stage she wants to reach again. “I would say hitting a grand slam in the state tournament last season,” she said. “Every homerun has been fun though.”
Courtney also has a clear plan for life after high school. “I have been offered to play softball at Seminole State College. After I play two years there, I plan to attend either OU or Rose State College and go into the hygiene program and become a dental hygienist.”
