Athletes always want to be at their best when it comes time to compete. In order to do that, they have to invest a lot of time and effort and even overcome any obstacles that end up in their way. Ryker Sanner has worked hard but also had to learn to shut out the negative comments from others.
“It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication for me to get where I am today,” he said. “What motivates me is I was always a smaller kid and I didn’t get to play a lot because I got told I was too small to play. So I wanted to become the biggest and best player to ever play at Velma Alma.”
Ryker is in his junior year at Velma-Alma High School, where he plays linebacker and tight end on the football team. He is also a member of the Beta Club.
Throughout his football career, Sanner has been a part of some memorable moments with his teammates. Out of all of them, he has one that stands out as his favorite.
“I think the highlight moment of my career was stopping the Drumright quarterback on fourth and one to win the game,” he recalled. “This win advanced us into the playoffs.”
The guys that he competes alongside every Friday night is a group that Ryker appreciates because they show up and do their job and they work well together.
“Broderic Spigner is someone that I enjoy practicing against,” he said. “He does everything about the same so he’s a good one to push me and I do the same for him. I think the linemen on our team are under-appreciated. They may not be the ones that get talked about on the coaches show every Saturday but without them nobody would be able to do anything because it all starts up front.”
While he has had people in his life that have been influential, Sanner has a couple that have had a bigger impact on him.
“The biggest role models for me are my parents,” he stated. “They push me to become the best version of me I can be.”
