Payton Waldie is a multisport athlete at Ringling High School. As a member of the football, powerlifting, and track teams, he puts in a lot of time and effort to be his best. And while each sport requires a different work out and preparation, he says that there are also some of the same things needed for each.
“Hard work and dedication on and off the field are necessary for success,” Waldie said. “The same amount of time that is required in practice is needed in the weight room to make a real difference. Showing up on time off, during the summer, and on breaks, is just going the extra mile to make myself and my team better.”
In his senior year, Payton reflects back on his athletic career at Ringling and remembers a lot of great memories that he made alongside his teammates. But he says that he is not quite finished yet.
“A highlight of my career so far has been beating Velma-Alma,” he said. “This is because we knew this would be a hard game and it looked like the entire town of Velma was at Rick Gandy Field that night. We beat them, but I am not satisfied with this being the highlight of my career, and plan to have a different one at the end of this season.”
Throughout his life, there have been people that have had an impact on his life and helped shape him into the person that he is today.
“Some of my biggest influences and role models are my older brother and cousins who played before me,” he said. “My brother, Preston Waldie, and my cousins, Ethan and Brayden Johnson, were part of the 2019 State Championship team. They have always pushed me to do better. A big motivation for me is the legacy of Ringling High’s football program.”
As a student in the classroom at Ringling, Waldie has had the opportunity to learn from a lot of different teachers over the years. He appreciates all of them but has one that stands out as his favorite.
“The teacher who has had the greatest impact on my life is my sixth-grade science teacher, Coach Dawson Bassett,” he said. “He taught me a lot about anatomy and the positive impacts lifting weights and staying in shape has on human life.”
