By Derrick Smith

Athletes can have many people that come in and out of their lives. While these people could be either positive or negative influences, in most cases they are people that want to help the athlete become the best that they can be or have the potential to be. Midwest City’s Taniya Looney says that she has been influenced by a lot of great people. 

“My coaches would have to be the biggest role models in my life,” she said. “Because my whole life they have been pushing me to be the best version of myself. They always tell me if I put in the work I can achieve anything I put my mind to. Also, my mother and grandpa taught me that there’s more to life than just sports. That I’m not just an athlete, I am so much more.”

Looney is a senior at Midwest City high school. She plays basketball and runs track for the Lady Bombers. These two sports have been a part of Taniya’s life for a while, as she began playing them both in elementary school. 

Playing sports for that long has given Taniya the opportunity to create many great memories and these are things that she will never forget.

“The highlight of my career is being able to create all the memories with my team and coaches,” she said. “Last year was an especially great one because we made it to state in basketball for the first time in four years. That was the happiest moment I’ve had in high school.”

The success that Looney has enjoyed is not something that is just given to her. It has been earned through a lot of hard work.

“It has taken dedication and a lot of support to be successful in the sports I play,” she stated. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had given up because of one bad game, practice, off day, or even without the people that kept pushing me along the way.”

And that hard work has paid off even more for Taniya. She has committed to run track and field and further her education at Pittsburg State University after she graduates from Midwest City.