Claremore’s Grace Baughman
Leadership can come in many forms. For Claremore High School’s Grace Baughman, leadership is about your teammates and getting everyone on the same page, competing for the same goals. As a varsity volleyball player, Baughman knows team chemistry can carry a team a long way during the season.
“I feel that it’s important to be a leader on the CHS volleyball team because now that I’m an upperclassman I can really help show how the team chemistry should look like and make bonds with all my teammates, so we all play for each other and not individually,” Baughman said. “Being a leader means that I’m willing to make bonds with my whole team and being able to gain the trust of my teammates so that we all can play fearless for each other.”
Leaders also set goals and expectations for the team. Something the upperclassmen have done this season for the Lady Zebra’s.
“My expectations for this season are pretty high this year, we have so much talent this year and we’re already pretty close as a team. I feel like we are definitely going to make some really big impacts becoming a well-known volleyball team this year,” said Baughman.
Leading by example is another way to show your teammates you are serious about winning and having a season to remember. Baughman has a work ethic that other underclassmen should follow.
“My work ethic comes from my mom always telling me how important it is to put the work in, the older that I’m getting the more that I’m realizing that it truly is so important especially since volleyball is getting more and more talent. It’s so important to get the extra reps and weight and agility training in when you can. I go to training at GameReady in Tulsa, and it’s helped me become a better and mentally and physically tougher athlete with Sean Barger,” said Baughman.
Lifting up your teammates shows your leadership is on another level and Baughman said there are plenty of teammates everyone should watch this season.
“Some of my teammates you should be watching this season are Faith Caffey, Addison Doyle, Ava Tanner, Madison Godding, Bella Hoisington, and Maise Stagner-Speer,” said Baughman.
Away from the court, Baughman said she would enjoy playing flag football and being outdoors. “I think it would so fun to join a flag football team. I used to play catch with my dad when I was younger, and I always thought it was so fun and always wondered what it’d be like to play flag football,” Baughman said. “My guilty pleasure would have to be going and exploring any new place, especially nature, I love going outside and just getting to admire the beauty of this world. I love being hands on and learning new things whether that be building a fire or learning about some animals, I love it.”
