High school athletes can have a number of people that influence their life, both athletically and in everyday life. Whether it is someone that they know well or a celebrity or someone they admire from a distance, the impact they can have on their life can be big. Eli Randall is in his senior year of high school at Vici and he says that he has a few people that he looks up to. 

“My parents are my biggest role models,” Randall said. “They support me in everything I do and they are always there for me. Also, I really look up to Lebron James because he is the greatest basketball player of all time and I want to be like him.” 

Along with playing basketball and baseball for the Vici Indians, he is also a member of the Future Farmers of America, Academic Bowl, and the National Honor Society. 

Randall has invested a lot of time and effort into becoming the athlete and person that he is today, but he knows that the work is worth it in the end. 

“It takes a lot to become a successful athlete,” he said. “One of the more important things is to be dedicated. You have to be willing to put in the work and make sacrifices if you want to be the best. I’ve had some great moments while playing sports but my favorite is probably advancing to the state basketball tournament with my team.” 

In the classroom, Eli works hard so that he can further his education. He says that while he has learned from a lot of teachers, there is one, in particular, that is his favorite for an obvious reason. 

“My favorite teacher is probably my math teacher,” he stated. “He is a good teacher, plus he is my dad.” 

Taking care of school work, along with being prepared for game day, and any other things that are going on can be a lot for a high school student, but Eli says that it really is not that bad. 

“It is not difficult to get it all done,” he said. “You just have to pay attention in class and get your work done.”