Athletes will face a lot of different opponents throughout their careers. Some will be tougher than others, while others may surprise you with their abilities. But for Norman’s Julius Stephens, his toughest opponent is one he faces every day.

“My biggest opponent is myself,” he stated. “I want to continue improving my skill and technique. Plus, when I succeed, I prove to all other opponents who doubt what I am capable of that they were wrong. It has taken time, patience, discipline, and hard work to make it this far. And it will continue with more discipline and hard work to be the best.”

Stepehns is a sophomore at Norman High School. He is a member of the school’s football and powerlifting teams.

Throughout his life, he has had some people that have been impactful to him and helped him become the person that he is today.

 “Some of my biggest influencers are my parents,” Stephens said. “They always told me to keep doing what I love and never give up. That mindset alone drives my passion for football. The teacher who has had the biggest impact on my life is my fifth-grade teacher. She had cancer and kept on fighting through the battle to do what she loves, which is teaching.”

The work that Julius has invested into continually improving has paid off for him and he says that is what led to his favorite moment on the field.

“The highlight of my career was making Varsity my freshman year,” he said. “It really sparked a fire in me to grow and improve. The Varsity team welcomed me and took me under their wing, that was great motivation. Football motivates me. I have played football for the past ten years. I love the game. I have a passion for football. I love sports and I hope to see everyone succeed at something they love. For me, I want to succeed at this game.”

Playing for Norman is more than just wins or losses for Julius. It’s also about seeing every come together for something.

“Football is not all about hitting and running plays. It also brings communities together. To see old teachers, new teachers, students, and families in the stand, it is pretty cool.”