High school athletes invest a lot of time and effort so they can be at their best when they compete. But behind the scenes, their parents are doing just as much to help their kids be successful at whatever sports they have chosen to pursue. Felicia Gifford says that being the parent of an athlete can be tough at times, but it is also rewarding.
“Personally for me the time commitment is the toughest part,” she said. “I’m a single mom of four. So getting the twins to where they need to be with everything they need. I also rarely miss a game. The toughest feeling though is when I see them get frustrated or down on themselves after a bad play or game. We’ve had some games where one boy will have some amazing plays while his brother may have missed a block or just had a hard time on the field. Finding the balance while encouraging them to keep trying and loving what they are doing. No matter what, I couldn’t be prouder of them on and off the field.”
Gifford has two sons at Ponca City High School, twins Malaki and Izaiah. They are sophomores and they are on the football and track teams.
Felicia works as an office secretary and a child nutrition secretary at a local elementary school. She is also a part of the Ponca City Quarterback Club. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, and yelling at the television during their favorite team’s football games.
The community of Ponca City is one that Gifford is proud to be a part of. She says that the community as a whole does a great job of supporting the students and athletes.
“Once a Wildcat always a Wildcat is a true saying around here,” she said proudly. “The community is really stepping up and showing their support for the team this year. The buzz going around town seems to be contagious with the excitement coming from the team and coaches.”
