By: Hunter Ferguson

Chickasha runner Charles William Crowl II aka Liam spoke to VYPE in a recent interview.

VYPE: What are your personal goals for the year?

My personal goals for the year are mostly centered around my education after high school. I’ve already admitted myself to OCCC, and am now working to receive the Academic Scholar title to help fund my schooling. I’m looking forward to exploring life centered outside of Chickasha, and I hope to potentially move somewhere new.

VYPE: What is your favorite athletic memory?

My favorite athletic memory probably has to be my freshman year of track and field regionals, finding out I had made state. Coach Waters and I worked together nonstop that season to improve my hurdle form and to see the payoff truly happen, was a great feeling. And to now look back on that makes me even more fond of that memory to see how much I’ve grown.

VYPE: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?

I’d say my biggest impression from a teammate so far throughout my track career has been Brock Barr. He is a CHS graduate, now attending Cameron University. Brock has always been the epitome of a true runner in my mind. His drive and determination is something that not only I respect and admire, but so many other people do as well. Not only was he a dedicated runner, he was a great teammate. He always had a positive mindset towards the day and brought the spirits of our team up.

VYPE: What is your favorite part of being on this team?

My favorite part of being on the track and field team has to be the energy within the team on meet days. You can guarantee that whenever somebody is about to compete in an event, there will be multiple teammates cheering them on with genuine encouragement. 

VYPE: Do you participate in any community service projects?

Throughout my time in high school, being involved in various clubs and athletics has provided me with many opportunities to help the community. I’ve been able to help clean up the community in organized events, as well as hold fundraisers for various organizations throughout the community.

VYPE: What Clubs or Campus groups are you involved with and why?

At Chickasha High, I’ve been granted a few leadership roles, which have pushed me to maintain a positive and active mindset.  I am a four year member of the student council, currently serving as the Vice-President. The Student Council has allowed me to play a part in connecting the student body to the faculty and school system, which I believe is a core part in improving one’s highschool experience. I am also one of two team captains of the swim team which I’ve been a part of since freshman year. Swimming has always been a passion of mine and the Chickasha swim team is one of the most caring and supportive teams I’ve been a part of. As far as clubs, throughout my years of high school I’ve been a part of many. Two of my personal favorites are the Volunteer Club, and the no longer existing philosophy club. Volunteer club has provided, as I said in one of my previous answers, many opportunities to participate in community service activities like blood drives and helping out at community events.

VYPE: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?

A skill I’ve learned from my time doing sports would definitely be the teamship and camaraderie necessary to keep a team performing well. There’s times as a team you have to put others first and yourself last, and I believe it’s a noticeable trait that athletes have learned. 

VYPE: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?

I think the best advice I could give someone is to not be too hard on yourself.  I’ve always caught on and noticed that whenever I focus too hard, and begin to bring down my own self, then I begin to underperform and lose my actual drive for what I’m doing. One of the most important things for an athlete is to maintain your enjoyment and love for the sport you’re doing, and sometimes it’s easy to lose that. Keeping a positive mindset towards what you’re doing allows you to grow not only as an athlete but as a person.

VYPE: Who inspires you and why?

My biggest inspiration, as on the nose as it is, would probably be my track coach and teacher, Cristie Oliver. Throughout this school year I’ve gotten to learn more about what she does outside of her coaching position in the school system, via the internship program she leads at the school. The tasks she takes on at the school come from a place in her experiences that I completely agree with and it personally makes me want to do the same. Her coaching is also different from what I was normally used to but I quickly grew to appreciate it heavily. Everything she does and stands for I can see myself doing the same.

VYPE: Here is your chance to give a shoutout or say thank you to anyone you wish.

I would like to give my thanks to my family first and foremost. I’m blessed to have such a caring support system that enables me to push through obstacles and difficulties, while also making sure I stay true to who I am as a person. I also have to give thanks to my best friend Delaney. Without her full support and presence, I know I would not be where or who I am today. And finally to all of my coaches who have pushed me to be the athlete I am, I’m grateful to have ended up with people who not only want me to succeed, but who genuinely care for me as a person and made the effort to make me feel comfortable within spaces I previously wasn’t fully used to.