By Scott Metz

Senior Kael Sargent enjoys playing soccer for the Hilldale High School Hornets. As a center back, Kael is the last line of defense for the team, responsible for stopping any attack from reaching his goalkeeper.

In terms of what it means for Kael to represent Hilldale High School, he did not hesitate to answer. “It means a lot to play for Hilldale High School, and I am very grateful to be able to play for the Hornets as a soccer player.”

When it comes to someone that Kael looks towards as a role model, he stated, “My role models are my parents and teammates; they push me to be better.”

For Kael, a certain teacher is his favorite. “Mr. Englebret because he is a very nice and down to earth person, who taught me a lot about life in general.”

Teammates make the difference in whether a team wins or loses. Asked which teammate he likes working the most with during practice, Kael stated, “I like practicing with Ryker Milton. We are good friends and I enjoy competing with him.”

There are many memories made on the soccer field, but for Kael, one particular memory stood out as a highlight. “My favorite memory was the bus ride after beating Holland Hall in the quarterfinals in soccer my sophomore year.”

Sports are all about rivalries among teams, and for most teams there is one team that they enjoy beating the most. Kael stated, “My favorite team to beat is Fort Gibson.”

Many high school athletes have a professional athlete that plays their sport that they look up to. Kael cited “My favorite professional athlete is French professional soccer player N’Golo Kanté, who is a defensive midfielder for Premier League Club Chelsea and the French national team. He is my favorite athlete because he is very humble, and did not let his success change him.”

Off the soccer field, Kael is a member of the Hilldale High School Chess Club.