What does it take to be a great athlete? Dedication, drive, leadership, responsibility, teamwork, being competitive, self-motivated, and having a positive attitude, according to Talyn Payne. She definitely knows what it takes because Talyn is involved in track, basketball, and volleyball. She’s also a unified partner for the Special Olympics, on the student council, and in leadership lab. She has been a model student and athlete having been named Student of the Month and Athlete of the Month; proof that she exemplifies the behaviors that she believes are the best.

Coach Fischer says that “Talyn is a kid that I can trust with anything. She goes above and beyond for both me and the team. She always has a great attitude and the best work ethic! She is fun to coach and teach because of all these things.”

Her favorite sport is basketball because she loves her “teammates, the Weatherford crowd, Coach Pratt, and because it’s indoors.” Talyn says that sports have taught her not to give up, even when things get hard. Her highest moment in her sports career was Buzzer 3 in the Weatherford tournament that sent them to the championship.

Her favorite subject is Math, and she says that her math teacher, Coach Fischer, is her favorite teacher because “he is an awesome math teacher, and is an even better coach.”

Support from our teammates, coaches, friends, or family is important. Talyn says that her coaches and family have been the biggest positive impact for her because they are “so supportive and always help her to achieve her goals.” The biggest role model in her life has been her mom because “she is so incredibly supportive, encouraging, and never has missed a sporting event.”

In her free time, Talyn likes hanging out with her family, going to the lake, going snowboarding, and going  on vacation. She currently has plans to become a PTA in the future.