Athletes work hard so that they can be the best they can be at their sport. And while it can be tough and difficult at times, Kaitlyn Byrum knows that the work is worth it and she has seen it pay off.

“In order to be successful at sports, you have to be willing to put in the work and effort to accomplish your goals,” she said. “The highlight moment of my career would have to be when I won Most Valuable Player during my sophomore year. It was a great feeling and showed that the work that I had put in was not for no reason.”

Kaitlyn is a junior at Alex High School, where she plays point guard and shooting guard for the Lady Longhorn’s basketball team. She also runs track. Away from sports, she is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Beta Club, the Technology Student Association, and the Future Farmers of America.

The teammates that Byrum plays alongside are another big reason for her success.

“One of my biggest motivators is to see everyone on my team working hard and playing together as a team,” she said. “One person that I like to work with in practice is Keegan Seward. We always push each other and make each other better.”

Girl’s head basketball coach, Mark Prince, says that Kaitlyn is a key member of the team and she will play a big role in their success this season.

“Kaitlyn led us in scoring most nights last season,” Prince said. “She is on the court for a lot of minutes, we have a deeper bench this year which should help give her a minute off here and there.”

While she has put in a lot of work, Byrum has not done it alone and for that she is thankful.

“My dad and mom have been big role models for me,” she said. “They push me to work hard and be the best that I can be. Also, one of my teachers, Mr. Goyne, has been impactful as well. He is always there if you need him for anything like needing help with your car breaking down or just having a bad day.”