By Olivia Jones
Paelyn Clark is quickly establishing herself as one of Mangum High School’s rising stars on the softball field. As a sophomore, Clark is already making a strong impact for the Tigers, driven by a simple but powerful goal: wanting to be the best she can be.
Softball is Clark’s main focus, and her competitive mindset shows in everything she does. My family pushes me to be my best,” Clark said. Their constant support has helped shape her work ethic and determination.
Two teachers who have made a lasting impact on Clark are Mrs. Thurmond and Mrs. Clark. Their encouragement and guidance have helped her stay grounded while balancing academics and athletics.
For Clark, success in softball comes down to lots of practice and determination. She understands that improvement doesn’t happen overnight, and she’s willing to put in the work. That mindset paid off in a big way last season when Mangum won district championships in both slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball, a highlight moment in her young career.
While she enjoys competing against everyone, there’s one opponent that stands out. “Probably Merritt, we’ve been rivals since rec ball,” Clark said. Those long-standing matchups make wins even sweeter and push her to bring her best every time.
In practice, Clark says all of her teammates motivate her. “We all push each other in different ways,” she said. She also added that Mangum has a strong team culture where everyone is appreciated, which makes the environment even better.
Off the field, Clark stays involved as vice president of her class and as a member of FCA. Clark hopes to use her platform to inspire others. “I just want to inspire the younger girls to love the game,” she said. It’s a goal that reflects her passion not only for winning, but for the sport itself.
She enjoys following college softball stars like Karlyn Pickens and Teagan Kavan and looks forward to watching their careers continue. While she doesn’t have a specific dream school yet, Clark hopes to earn the opportunity to play at the next level. And if she weren’t playing softball, she says she’d be on the basketball court instead.
With her drive, leadership, and love for the game, Paelyn Clark is just getting started, and the future looks bright for this Mangum sophomore.
