By Derrick Smith

Everyone works to be successful. Whether it is in terms of their job, family, a sport they play, or something else, success is a goal for many. While the definition of success can differ from person to person, something they can agree on is that they are not able to be successful without help from others. 

Luke Huckaby is a student-athlete for the Jones Longhorns, and he says that there are a few people that have played a big role in him becoming the athlete and the person that he is today.

“My parents and athletic director Dave Martin have always been my biggest supporters,” he said. “Win or lose, good or bad, they are always there on my side. They have shown me through the years that perseverance and hard work are vital in any endeavor. Mr. Martin is certainly a man to strive to be more like. He does everything at no less than 110 percent. He believes in his players, and he believed in me. He pushed me outside of my comfort zone over and over. When I did not think I wanted to do something or could not do it, he never let me quit. He fights for the best for his players and challenges them to be better not just in their sport, but in life. He is a man who leads by example and someone to be admired.”

Luke, who is a senior, is a multisport athlete for the Longhorns, playing football, basketball, and golf. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society, and the Jones Spike Team. 

When he has downtime and checks his social media accounts, Huckaby has one person that he enjoys following. 

“My favorite follow on social media is Tiger Woods,” he stated. “He is the best golfer of all time and keeps coming back after injury.  He always posts what inspires him and his love for the game which is very cool.”

Out of all of his teammates, Huckaby has one that is underappreciated and flies under the radar of the opponent.

“I would say the player that is appreciated the least is my friend Luke Hildebrand,” he stated. “Whether it’s football or basketball, he always grinds and does what’s needed to be done. It may not always be flashy, but the team definitely needs it.”