There are people in our lives that help encourage us to keep going and to not give up. As a high school student-athlete, Toni Hodges-Tipton has a few of those people in her life and she is thankful for them because they helped shape her into the person that she is today.
“My biggest role models are my coaches for always helping me do better and pushing me,” she said. “Because even when I think I can’t, they know that I can. But mostly, my Uncle Brian for always believing in me and for cheering me up after a bad game and telling me that just because I’ve had one bad game, it doesn’t mean every game has to be bad and that the next time I just need to come out better and stronger than ever. Also, my Oklahoma History teacher, Pennie Salazar, always pushed me to my full extent whether it was on the field, court, or in the classroom. She was always there when I needed her and still is and I will always be grateful for her.”
Toni is a junior at Hobart High School, where she is a muli-sport athlete. She plays in the post on the baseball court, while on the softball field, she is at first base. She also throws discus and shotput as a member of the track team. Away from sports, she is also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Junior Ambassadors, the National Honor Society, and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America program.
Throughout her career, Toni enjoyed a lot of memorable moments with her teammates. But as she looks back, there is one game that stands out to her.
“My highlight would probably be the time I got my first double double,” she recalled. “It is important because that proved to me what I was capable of and that I had so much more to give.”
