Athletes work hard at their sport in order to be their best. But along with learning and improving on their sport, they also can learn other things that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Jeni Mayfield is the mother of two and she enjoys sports for just that reason.
“To me, it’s not just about winning and losing,” Mayfield said. “Sure, I’d rather see my kids excel, but some of their greatest lessons have been learned in times of failure. I believe it’s easier to be elite when you’re surrounded by elite, but true grit and perseverance come from hardships. Learning how to handle yourself in all situations is essential to leading an accomplished and productive life as an adult. Sports and activities are a great way for our youth to learn these life lessons. You get what you earn, and success is always sweeter when you’ve worked hard for it.”
Kash, Jeni’s oldest, is a senior at Elk City High School. He pitches and plays center field for the Big Elks baseball team. Her daughter, Westin, is a fifth grader at Western Oklahoma Christian School.

“Westin’s interests lie more in fine arts as she is an advanced artist for her age.”
Staying involved in her kid’s activities are important to Jeni and she says that it can play a big role in who they become.
“I have always been heavily involved in Kash’s baseball career from his young age all the way through to his senior year,” she said. “My husband Monty was coaching 6A baseball in Yukon while Kash was younger so I was often the parent that took Kash to all of his baseball practices and tournaments. I’m an encourager more than anything, but I’ve always set the bar very high for Kash because I always knew he was capable of reaching it. I’ve also taught him to respect his coaches, take responsibility for his actions, don’t back talk the umps, and never blame anyone else for failures. I’m also very involved in attending games and baseball events. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve always owned my own business. It allows me to adjust my schedule so that I can always be present for games. My support will continue as he starts his college career at Oklahoma State University this next spring, but he will have complete ownership at that level.”