If you ask Sayre sophomore Kendyl Woodruff when she first fell in love with the game of basketball, you need to be prepared to listen. 

“I started basketball in elementary school with the Elk City league,” Woodruff said. “Halfway through elementary and into middle school, I played in a Clinton league, but I didn’t really fall in love with the game until high school. It wasn’t until then I realized what I could do, and that was shooting. It took me a long time to realize that as a middle school and high school girl, you’re very insecure. When I got to high school, I was diagnosed with anxiety. After that, I started talking to someone, and I felt like I could finally relax. My coach and I had a long talk, and he told me I had a good shot, but up until that point I hadn’t realized it. After that talk, I felt like I could actually give something to the team.” 

That said, shooting isn’t the only thing Woodruff feels like she brings to the team now. In addition, she’s started trying to set an example for her teammates. 

“When I see girls getting angry and pouting, I look around and see others watching,” she said. “It makes me feel like I’m doing them an injustice if I act like that. I would define character as always being willing to help when someone needs it, and watching out for the little eyes that are always watching.” 

In her free time, Woodruff said she likes to take time to reset. 

“I like things like baths with Epsom salts, finishing my homework, and running errands for my mom or grandma,” she said. “I’m a nervous person, so I find resetting helps with the nervousness.” 

Woodruff said she’d like to say a special thank you to her mom, grandma, stepfather, father, and her boyfriend for being the best support system anyone could have.