Kennedy Zook has put in a lot of time and effort in order to be at her best when she competes. And she has seen that hard work pay off in the form of being able to compete at the next level.

“For me to be successful within my activities it has taken a lot of grit, dedication, hard work, having a positive mindset and the support of my family and friends,” she said. “Because of the work I have put in, I am excited to continue my softball career on the collegiate level this next fall at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa.”

A senior at Waynoka Public Schools, Zook is a member of the fastpitch and slowpitch softball teams, and the cheer team. Outside of athletics, she is also active in Future Farmers of America, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, the National Honor Society, and the Student Council.

Zook has had a variety of people that have been influential in her life and helped her grow. But she has a couple that have played a really big role.

“My nana is one of my biggest role models,” Kennedy said. “No matter how bad her day was, she always had a smile on her face and a positive attitude. Even on the hard days she just kept pushing through, and she was so kind and loving to everyone around her. My softball coach, Dustin Smith, has also been a great influence to me over the years helping me get to where I am today. Coach Smith has coached me throughout my entire high school career and always saw my potential and the potential of those around me. He continually pushed me to work hard, helped build my confidence as an athlete and has always been a great encouragement to me and my teammates.”

Whenever she prepares for competition and puts on her Waynoka uniform, Zook remembers that she is playing for more than just herself.

“Being able to represent both my school and community to me is a huge honor,” she stated. “It is very important that I represent both well on and off the field with a big smile and positive attitude.”