By Derrick Smith

Throughout the career of an athlete, they make many memories, both personally and with their teammates. These memories could be anything from a great team moment to a reaching a personal milestone. Chayce Elson’s favorite memory is when his team reached a goal they had set for themselves. “By far, my favorite moment as an athlete would have to be when we won the football state championship during my sophomore year,” he said. “It was a great experience and I was glad to be able to experience it with my teammates and coaches.”

Elson, who is a senior, attends Pond Creek-Hunter High School. He plays center and nose guard for the Panther’s football team. He started played football when he was in the third grade and says his love for the game has grown a lot over the years.

Since he plays on the defensive line, it is no surprise that Chayce’s biggest role model would be one of the top professional football linemen. “Aaron Donald is someone that I look up to as a football player,” he said. “He is super aggressive and he dominates when he is on the field. I definitely want to model my game after him.”

Another person that has made an impact on Elson would be his carpentry teacher, Mr. Childress, whom Chayce says has taught him more than just woodworking. “Mr. Childress has taught me a lot in that class,” he said. “Not just carpentry, but also a lot of life skills that I will use going forward after graduation.”

Chayce has put in a lot of work becoming the player that he is, but he says team success depends on the team. “Teamwork has been a key to our team’s success,” he said. “Each player has to be committed to being their best and playing at a high level.” 

During his sophomore and junior years, Chayce was named First Team All-District. He is also a member of the Future Farmers of America program and the prom committee.