By Derrick Smith

Athletes put in a lot of hard work throughout their careers working to reach the goals they have set for themselves. Though they work hard, they learn their work ethic as they are growing up. Parker Means knows exactly where he got his from.

“My mom is the biggest role model in my life,” he said. “The way she instilled working hard in me at such a young age. Pushing me to be successful in school and in athletics. Preparing me for challenges I may face now, and later in life. She has helped me every step of the way to this point.”

Means is a senior at Yukon High School where he plays both football and baseball. He says that he has had to put in extra work to get to where he is today.

“For me to be successful in sports, I have had to be willing to do more,” he said. “I’m not the tallest or most athletic and to compete against the best I’ve had to do the extra work and be mentally stronger than others. I stay motivated because of my teammates, community, and all the hard work and time spent getting better. That is what has led me up to my senior year.”

Parker has made some great memories during his time playing both sports, but he says that there is one football game that definitely stands out as his favorite.

“A game I enjoyed winning the most would be when we played Edmond Santa Fe during my sophomore football season,” he said. “We were huge underdogs as a team and I was 135 pounds running around playing 6A-1 football, just trying to do my part. Winning that game was just a moment I’ll never forget.”

While his mom has had a big impact on his life, there is another person that Means looks up to and enjoys following on social media.

“Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, is a great follow on social media,” he said. “He is a bad dude who does a lot of different things on camera. But he also does a lot for the common people including the military and veterans.”