Oak Hill – How a small school in Mississippi Built a Dynasty……

 

On a quiet spring morning in West Point, Mississippi, the Oak Hill  golf team gathers on the practice green. The air is filled with the soft thump of putts dropping into cups and the quiet focus of players who know what’s at stake. For them, state championships are not just a dream — they’re the expectation.

From Small Town to Statewide Spotlight

Oak Hill Academy is a small private school, but in the world of Mississippi high school golf, it looms large. Year after year, the Raiders capture MAIS state titles — nine in a row and counting. The streak has turned heads across the state, but to the players and coaches, it’s simply the result of hard work and high standards.

For golfers like Hunter Atkins, Cohen Trolio, Wells Williams, Collins Trolio, Seth Lockhart Eliza Yelverton, Claire Henson, Jackson Cook, Lucy Cook, Jake Blanton, and Payne Bius, Oak Hill has been more than a team — it’s been a proving ground. Their years in the program have led them to sign with college teams, carrying forward the legacy they helped build.  It’s a culture that lifts everyone.

The Coach Who Set the Tone

Behind the scenes, much of this story points back to Coach V. J. Trolio. Known for his sharp eye and steady guidance, Trolio has cultivated more than swings and scorecards. He built an environment where young athletes learn to compete with resilience.

“He doesn’t just teach us golf,” one player reflected. “He teaches us how to think, how to handle pressure, how to carry ourselves.”

That mindset has been the glue holding together nearly a decade of dominance.

 

 

Homegrown Advantage

Of course, part of Oak Hill’s story is geography. Just minutes away sit Old Waverly Golf Club and Mossy Oak Golf Club — two nationally acclaimed courses. For Oak Hill players, these courses are not rare destinations but everyday classrooms. Practicing and competing on such elite terrain has raised the standard of what’s possible.

It’s no accident that a small-town school with fewer than 400 students has become a statewide powerhouse. The community’s commitment to golf — from parents and coaches to local clubs — has created fertile ground for champions.

More Than Trophies

Oak Hill’s run of championships is impressive, but the deeper story is about opportunity. Each win adds momentum; each graduating class leaves behind a foundation for the next. Young players grow up watching their older teammates succeed, believing that they too can carry the torch.

The legacy isn’t just the titles hanging in the gym; it’s the golfers walking into college programs prepared for what comes their way.  For them to live and compete with values and to strive upwards.

The Story Still Being Written

In West Point, Oak Hill Academy has shown that greatness doesn’t require big enrollment numbers or flashy budgets. Sometimes, it comes from a small school with a big dream — and the drive to make it real, one swing at a time.