Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week: Ocean Springs’ very own Carmela Coulter!

Get you a girl that can do both and then some! This WXXV Student Athlete of the Week is a member of the Greyhound volleyball team, a State Champion track athlete, and leads her peers as the student body president. She truly does it all and does it all well. Introducing the strong leader and competitor, Ocean Springs’ very own Carmela Coulter!

Last month, the Ocean Springs volleyball team clinched the 7A South State title and competed in the State Championship for only the second time in school history. Although the Lady Greyhounds were only one set shy of hoisting the gold ball, senior middle hitter Carmela Coulter knows their success wasn’t wasted.

“It definitely proves that girls play sports too, people watch women’s sports and people enjoy it. We’re good at what we do,” said senior Carmela Coulter. “I definitely think it allows younger girls to be more interested in the sport especially in the past few years.  Just like the volleyball kids camp we do in the summer, it has gotten so much more involvement with the younger girls just because they’ve seen our success over the years, especially after this year. There will definitely be more kids this upcoming summer.”

Volleyball isn’t the only female sport putting Ocean Springs on the map, but Coulter also raises the bar when it comes to track and field. Not only is Coulter a jack of all trades when it comes to the track competing in seven different events and being named an All-State hurdler, she’s also undefeated on Mississippi soil and is looking to extend her nine meet winning streak in high jump where she most recently crowned the 7A State Champion.

“It’s just so exciting! It’s sad because it is my last year of high school track, hopefully not last time ever, but it’s exciting because definitely with the younger girls looking up to me and I want to be that influence that they can look up to, but also just to prove who I am, prove my times, prove I can repeat as a State Champion and things like that,” Coulter said.

Coulter didn’t just wake up one morning and become an All-State athlete in both of her sports, either. She says it’s because of her discipline and endurance that she’s able to succeed and thrive.

“Definitely discipline and endurance. Endurance as in physical endurance and also mental, knowing how to push myself, but also discipline as in I know I can push myself this much,” said Coulter. “I feel like I’m much more disciplined than other individuals around me and other athletes that aren’t as serious as I am.”

If you think she’s busy now, you should look at the rest of her calendar. She’s a member of the National Honors Society, Mayor’s Youth Council, four different clubs, and is the student body president while also maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. She makes it all look easy, but it’s because of the high standard she holds herself to.

“It’s definitely a bunch of up late, later than I should be. Just making sure to lock in and knowing when to put my phone away and actually focus on my work, focus on the training I’m doing, try to keep a clear mind and not stress as much about everything. It’s definitely hard, but it’s been working,” Coulter said. 

It’s working to say the least and it’s evident she can do anything she sets her mind to. Coulter dreams of competing in collegiate track meets while also pursuing a career as a civil litigation attorney and specialize in medical malpractice.

Congratulations Carmela on a successful high school career, and we look forward to cheering you on this upcoming track season!