By M. Howell

Harlie Chism is a junior at Weatherford High School and she enjoys playing shortstop the most when she is out on the softball field. On top of playing softball, Harlie also finds the time to run track, and says that winning Class 4A State Track as a freshman is one of her proudest achievements because it was so early in her career. Harlie thanks sports for teaching her leadership as well as how to work with others. “A lot of the time people get down on themselves based offtheir performance, but in reality, you are playing for the other eight girls beside you. You have to learn how to play as a team and not for yourself,” she added.

One of Harlie’s biggest influences in life is her mother because she is always unknowingly setting a great example for her. “She is such a strong-willed person that truly doesn’t care what other people think of her. She is who she is, and I strive to become the woman she portrays on a daily basis,” Harlie included. She then noted that her favorite teacher is also her coach Fischer, who also teaches her math class. She described him as being truly understanding of his student athletes and their mental well-being outside of the classroom and athletic department. When it comes to Harlie’s teammates, ‘Mar,’ or Marley Teasley, their pitcher, stands out among the rest as her best friend and biggest inspiration. “We have really good communication on the field and in our friendship and I think that’s what makes us such good leaders,” she reasoned.Harlie finds pride in representing Weatherford High School as a student athlete because she is happy being a role model to underclassmen. She appreciates the competitive environment at the school, because she knows she has put in the work and when she graduates, she will do so as the best possible athlete she could be. The best advice she has ever been given is to “Trust God. Two simple words that have such a big impact. As an athlete, there are many situations where you doubt your identity in your sport… in the end, he has a plan for me and for you and we’ve just got to trust where he’s taking us,” Harlie concluded. She is also involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Council. She would like togive a shout out to her brothers – she is a triplet and wants to thank them for the sacrifices they made so she can live out her dreams.