VYPE: Who has been your favorite coach throughout your career and how did they impact you as a player?

McKayla Livingston: My favorite coach has been coach Tackett. He was always there to support you and hype you up but kept a tight practice. I feel as if he made me a better player by teaching me to keep a positive mindset.

VYPE: Did you have any teammates that you admire or that supported you?

ML: Keeli Boise and Nautica Gongloff have been some of my biggest supporters and have pushed me to be the best at both softball and golf. 

VYPE: Who was your favorite teacher and how were they influential in your life? 

ML: My favorite teacher has been Mrs. Spradlin. She always had the best attitude no matter what was going on and truly has your best interest at heart. She loves what she does, and you can tell how much compassion she has for teaching.

VYPE: What preparation have you taken this off-season to better equip yourself for the upcoming season?

ML: Over the summer I showed up to open gyms and open cages to keep myself in shape and take extra reps, so I was prepared for the season.

VYPE: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?

ML: My sport has taught me to always compete no matter the circumstances. You can achieve anything you truly put your mind too, so always put your best effort out there.

VYPE: What has been your favorite memory in your sport?

ML: So far, my favorite softball memory was when I had the walk-off hit to beat Cushing after a hard-fought game! I will never forget how excited the whole stadium was and the amount of joy I felt in that moment.

VYPE: What do you hope to accomplish this season (individual or team goals)?

ML: This season I hope to achieve a higher batting average and even less errors than I had last year in the field. I am much older and more experienced so I fully believe I can achieve my goals. As a team I hope we can make it to state, we have the athletes we just must keep our heads in it.

VYPE: What matchup are you most looking forward to this season?

ML: The match up I am looking forward to most is a rematch with Tecumseh and North Rock Creek. They are both solid teams, but I believe we can beat them if we play clean ball.

VYPE: What are your plans after high school?

ML: My plans after school include attending Oklahoma State University to earn a bachelor’s degree.