Success is something that everyone strives to achieve, no matter what they are doing. Whether it is in their job, athletics, family life, or something else, being at your best is what we all work towards. Hadley Zachary is an athlete at Mangum High School and she says that while it has taken a lot to get where she is, she is thankful for the experience she has had along the way.

“I have put in a lot of hard work and made a lot of sacrifices to get where I am today,” Zachary said. “My favorite memories of playing so far have been seeing my teammates and I grow closer to each other and God. That is far more important than any success on the field.”

Hadley is a senior at Mangum where she is a member of the fastpitch and slowpitch softball teams. She is also involved in the National Honor Society and Club Scrub. 

While she has worked hard to be at her best on the field, Zachary also says that it is important to her that she is a good role model off the field.

“One of my biggest motivations is all the girls that look up to me,” she said. “I want to be a good example for them as an athlete and as a person.”

In her life, Hadley has had her own people that she has looked up to. She says that she is thankful for the impact that each of them have had. 

“The biggest role models in my life would have to be my parents,” she said. “They have taught me how to work hard and be a good person. Someone else that has had an influence on me is my teacher, Bruise Gahagan. He taught his students how to be good people and leaders. My teammate, Brynne Woodress is an outstanding athlete and a hard worker and she helps me by pushing me to my limits.”

When she and her teammates step out on the field to play, they are ready to compete against whoever is in the other dugout. But Zachary has one team that is more fun to beat.

“My favorite team to beat is Hobart,” she said. “They have always been our rivals and it always feels good to beat them.”