On spring afternoons in Hollis, it is hard to miss Kreid McQueen’s voice cutting through the chatter from the dugout or the pop of a fastball in his catcher’s mitt. A senior for the Hollis High School Tigers, McQueen has become one of the anchors of the varsity baseball team, splitting time between catcher and shortstop while embracing the responsibility that comes with both positions.
“I play catcher and shortstop, and I feel like the most difficult thing is having to know what is going on in every situation,” McQueen said. From calling pitches to directing infield shifts, he approaches the game with the same steady focus he brings to the rest of his busy life.
A member of the school’s FFA chapter, McQueen serves on the officer team as president and takes on multiple volunteer roles, balancing early-morning agriculture duties with late practices at the ballpark. “FFA gives me the opportunity to meet new people,” he said, noting that experiences in the organization have helped him grow as a leader.
“The thing I love the most about my team is that everyone is always in a good mood and having a great time,” McQueen said. He pointed to teammate Matt Parker as the one who keeps the Tigers loose. “I would say Matt Parker is the most vocal while also making everyone laugh,” he said.
Away from the diamond and the ag classroom, McQueen enjoys hunting, hanging out with friends and playing golf, but he still gravitates toward the sciences at school. “My favorite subject would be anything related to science,” he said, adding that his favorite teacher is his biomed instructor, Brad Patterson.
McQueen credits his drive to his family and the lessons learned through both sports and FFA. “I would say my mom inspires me the most; she’s taught me that no matter how hard things get you can always push through it,” he said. “FFA and sports have taught me how to work towards something that’s bigger than yourself.”
After graduation, McQueen plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in plant and soil sciences, taking the work ethic he honed at Hollis to the next level.
