By: Hunter Ferguson
Altus freshman athlete Hayden Castillo recently discussed her involvement in High School athletics with VYPE. Castillo represents her school through her participation in volleyball, basketball, and track as well as the “National Junior Honor Society, the First Baptist youth group, and Oklahoma Swarm AAU basketball team”.She shared that “My most important goal is to play for the Lord, encourage my team to do the same, and carry the lessons that I learn from sports throughout my life”.
During the basketball season she plays both the point guard and guard positions and enjoys “beating teams that are very successful and challenging because it makes me come out of my comfort zone and challenges me”. Also helping her grow as a player someone Castillo told us she likes to “work against”. Her teammate,Altus High junior Jenna Blackford “who is one of our posts, because she challenges me to be stronger going to the rim and blocking out”.
Others who influence Castillo both on and off the court we’re told are “Kobe Bryant and my grandma”. “Kobe because of the mentality he had, and my grandma because of her faith and the way she has overcome everything that has challenged her,” explained Castillo. She also respects “Grace Lyons. I like the way she plays softball for the Lord and also lives her life for the Lord”. Lyons may have helped empower Castillo to act in what she says has been “The highlight moment of my career” praying for both teams during their pregame. Castillo even spoke to us about “Jiminy Latham. I had her as a teacher my 4th and 8th grade year, and as a result we formed a close bond. I always felt like she supported me and made me believe in myself”.
Castillo expressed to us that “It has taken a lot of hard work, sacrifice, and faith to be successful in my sports”. Sharing that “It’s important to me to do my best on and off the court because I want to make the people that have supported me proud and set an example for the younger class men that are watching me”. Namely, her family – saying “My family motivates me because I want to make them proud”.
