Although football is the future for Alva High School senior Weston Tucker, track is where he has had the most success and best memories as a Goldbug. He qualified for state his sophomore year in the long jump and his junior year qualified in the long jump, 200m sprint, and the 4X100 and 4X200m relays where the team finished sixth.

“Going to state was really exciting and getting to meet new people from schools I didn’t know anything about,’ said Weston who is a member of the Key Club which does community services work around Alva and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

As a senior leader, Weston says he strived to provide a role model for young athletes that he didn’t feel like he had as a youngster coming up through high school.

“I feel like I’m providing that kind of leadership that I didn’t have. I text the younger kids a lot and try to stay on top of their world and attend some of their games and meets when I can. A good leader is someone who never gives up on anybody, find solutions to problems, works hard, and keeps everyone in line and accountable.”

The accountability factor is something Tucker feels like he learned from his father.

“My dad is my main motivator. He is always getting on me to do my best and be accountable.”

Though he didn’t have an in-school role model, Weston did have a player he looked up to with family ties. His uncle, Tim Albin, was the head coach at Northwestern State at one point and moved on to coach at Nebraska and is now head coach at Ohio University and shared coaching duties with the father of Joe Burrow, now pro quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I only met Burrow once or twice, but I’ve obviously followed his career,” said Tucker.

And football will guide Weston’s immediate future as he has signed to play wide receiver next fall at Emporia State University. But between now and then, Weston has some unfinished business this spring in track.

“I want to go back to state again this year and run under 11 seconds in the 100m, under 23 seconds in the 200m and I’d like to break the school record of 23 feet in the long jump.”