Kellen Lamar enjoys playing the game of football. He has put in the time and effort to become the athlete that he is today, but he says that he would not have been able to do it without some special people in his life.

“It has taken a lot of hard work and many hours of practice to get where I am,” he said. “I have also had some great influences on my life. My parents have always worked hard to give me a good future and they have always been there to support me and cheer me on. Also, coach Stehr has helped me succeed in the classroom and out on the football field. He always has encouraging words to give the team.”

As a senior at Merritt High School, Kellen plays football and is a member of the powerlifting team. Though there can be tough times being an athlete, Kellen says that he keeps himself motivated by the work.

“I am motivated by my growth and results,” he said. “It’s rewarding to witness all of my hard work pay off.”

There have been some memorable moments throughout his career, but Lamar says that there are a couple of things that he has enjoyed the most.

“The highlight moment of my career is getting to be a defensive back,” he stated. “I’ve always been an offensive lineman, but I feel like I make more of an impact when I’m on defense. Also, being able to represent my school and community when I wear the jersey gives me the motivation to work even harder to make our community proud.

It means a lot to me to represent my school and community. They’ve supported and encouraged me and our team even through our losses.”

When Kellen and his teammates step out on the field to compete together, they are ready to face whoever their opponent is. But, he says that there is one opponent that they enjoy beating a little more than all the others.

“Any time we can get a win against the Sayre Eagles is a great win,” he said. “They are our biggest rival so those games mean a little more.”