There are a number of ways that an athlete can work on their game and become better. Working out in the gym or weight room, being at every practice, and putting in the extra practice at home are all good ways to become better. But for Gunner Huffman, there is another way that someone could become a better athlete and it doesn’t require a lot of physical work.

“One of the best things you can do to improve in any sport is to be coachable,” he said. “You may not agree with everything a coach is telling you, but you need to remember that you are there to listen and learn. Plus, they probably have a lot more experience than you do, and you could learn a lot from that.”

Huffman is a freshman at Vinita High School, and he has been around sports most of his life. He currently competes in baseball, football, and wrestling for the Hornets. He started playing baseball with a traveling team when he was three years old, and wrestling entered the picture when he was five years old when he joined the Vinita Kids Wrestling team and the Oklahoma Kids Wrestling Association.

With sports playing a big role in his life, Gunner knows what it takes to be the best.

“I have done a lot to become the athlete I am today,” he said. “Sacrifice, dedication, showing up and working hard at every practice, learning from my mistakes, and putting in extra time beyond scheduled practices have helped me excel in the sports that I love. I am naturally competitive with myself and against others. My goal in life is to always give 100 percent whether that’s in sports or schoolwork.”

Though he has put in a lot of work, Huffman says that there are a couple of people that have been keys to him becoming the person he is.

“My biggest influencers are my parents,” he said. “No matter what sport I’m playing, they are always trying to help me become better. They encourage me to put in the extra work to improve my basic skills and techniques.”