by By Dan Ninham
A Cass Lake-Bena HS (MN) student-athlete is going to the state tournament twice this school year. First was the girls’ basketball state tournament and now the state golf meet.
Nakomis Mitchell, 15, is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is a sophomore member of the golf team at Cass Lake-Bena HS in Minnesota. Nakomis is mainly called Komis.
Komis’ athletic resume’ includes:
- 2021 Top 5 in Section 7A Golf and going to the State Meet
- 2021 1st Team All Conference Golf
- 2021 Went to state in Basketball
- 2020 Varsity Letter in Robotics
- 2018 Varsity Letter in Golf
- 2016 Bronze Medal, North America Indigenous Games, Basketball
“I learned years ago from my grandfather Johnny Mitchell to be proud of my culture and who I am as a person,” said Komis. “He taught me to be humble but yet to be proud of who I am and my accomplishments whether I finish first or last as long as I do my best.”
“I believe the creator has a plan for me and has gifted me with the ability to be a good student athlete,” added Komis.
Committed and disciplined student-athletes not only have needs but plans to fulfill them.
“My dream is to become a college athlete and possibly make it to the LPGA,” said Komis. “I need to focus on my studies first while I accomplish my goals as a golfer. I need to commit to practice daily and work on my game and be able to take constructive criticism and learn from my mistakes. I also need to work on my mental game and prepare myself to keep my emotions in check.”
Komis’ coaches are her parents Jamie and Lisa Mitchell and Levi Brown. Her mentors are her brothers Dakotah Brunelle and Coltin Mitchell.
“My mom is always there as my biggest supporter and is always there when I feel like I am not doing well,” said Komis. “She encourages me do better and her pep talks get me back on track and my head back in the game.”
“Nakomis has talked about this goal for years,” said mom and junior high coach Lisa Mitchell. “She knows she needs to practice, practice, and practice. What’s amazing about this little lady is that she knows it’s not about just swinging a club, it’s so much more. She knows that she needs to play safe and hit the fairways. She also knows the mental game is a huge part of how you play.”
“Nakomis works at Tianna Country Club in Walker, and she plans on hitting the course before or after work to get ready for state. She is really digging deep and trying to figure out how she will be able to get there and hold her own. Her plan is to get out there as much as she can with her brothers and soak up all the advice they can give her to improve her game. She is a very humble person and if she struggles she will move on and encourage the next person to do well,” added Lisa.
“My dad always motivates me and helps me a lot on what to do on the course and look at the different options on how to play the shot,” said Komis.
“Big part of her golf game is staying positive out there,” said dad and head coach Jamie Mitchell. “When she gets down after a bad shot or a bad hole she knows she has to dig down deep and grind it out, she knows she has that ability to do that as that showed at the Section Meet this year. Preparing for the State tournament, it will be a lot golf and a lot of time on the range with Coach Brown our hitting instructor.
“Levi Brown is there to straighten up my swing and how to hit better,” said Komis. “He usually just has to take a look at my swing and can correct it right away and get me right back in the game.”
“Nakomis matured a lot since the start of golf back in March when every practice session was held indoors,” said Levi Brown, varsity assistant golf coach. “This matured helped her find confidence and belief that she was good enough to qualify for the state tournament.”
“I coached both her older brothers who were also state participates and now being able see Nakomis headed to state tournament makes me so proud,” added Levi.
“My brothers are always motivating me to get out on the course and let me golf with them,” said Komis. “They are really good golfers and have both been to state several times. Dakotah placed third at state his senior year. I someday want to be a good golfer like them.”
“The game has come naturally to Nakomis since the day she picked up a club,” said Dakotah Brunellle. “The more time and practice she is willing to put in the better she is going to be. She’s easily coached and eager to learn about the game. As a sophomore going to state is a very huge accomplishment. The more practice she puts in the better she will be, she has a very bright future ahead of her in her high school golf career. I’ve enjoyed watching her grow as an athlete and a young lady.”
“It’s been Nakomis’ goal to walk in the fairways of Pebble Creek for the state golf meet,” said Coltin Mitchell. “After cheering and supporting her older brothers for years not quite understanding what it was all about until she became competitive but yet still having fun. Now, even at a sophomore level she sets her goals to make it to state and be first team all-conference. I always tell her to build her own legacy and story. I always preach to her that you have to be mentally strong to play the game of golf while learning it is a process and gaining experience each year is invaluable.”
“I am a twin,” said Komis. “My sisters’ name is Mataya and I have been around sports all my life. My family is very close knit. Where there is one there usually is another or all. We all pretty much have the same interest and we always usually are all out there playing the same sport.”
“An interesting fact about me is my name,” said Komis. “Some people think my name is spelled wrong and pronounced wrong, but that’s not true. My name is spelled Nakomis and in the Ojibwe language it is spelled Nokomis and pronounced Nookomis, and that means grandmother.”
“My name is unique and is a beautiful name that was given to me by my parents. I do have my grandmothers middle name which is very uncommon, but yet beautiful.
Nakomis Luella Mitchell, yes that’s me,” added Komis.
“I am a proud Anishinaabekwe!” said Komis.
Photo Credit: Allan Olson, Cass Lake Times
Good luck at State, my girl!!! We are all so proud of you💕