By Hayden Swope
Maize South’s Sam Parks knew this year’s Maverick team would be a hard one to top. Many starters, including the first team all-state kicker, return this season.
“I’m really excited about how good our team is going to be this year,” Parks said. “We have a lot of great players returning and I’m looking forward to the run we make this year. Also, we have a game against our rivals, Maize, which will be an awesome experience.”
While the team has been preparing for the season in Maize, Parks took it a step further and traveled all around to better his game.
“One big thing I’ve been doing is going to college camps all across the country,” Parks said. “There is a lot of competition at these camps which in turn helps me improve. I’ve also gone to the football field many times this summer in order to get lots of practice in.”
The skills and talent on the field can only take you so far. Not only has Parks trained to strengthen his weaknesses, but also his mindset. While on the field and in the weight room, Parks also found himself learning to enjoy the game he loves.
“As a kicker, it is hard to set specific goals other than the obvious, make every kick,” Parks said. “Instead I want to focus on the mental side of the game. It’s never fun when you miss a kick, but the most important thing is being able to come back and fight the adversity.
Only a junior, Parks is still figuring out what his future holds, however he does hope to continue playing football after high school.
“I’m into anything involving engineering and working with my hands,” Parks said. “My goal is to play football in college while getting my degree.”
