Rhett Haley soon to be a junior at Chandler High School. Rhett participates in cross country, basketball, STUCO, FFA, NHS, and Positive Peers. Rhett has been participating in cross country for three years now and got his start from his best friend. His favorite parts about cross country are the group runs and that feeling that you get when you’re finishing a race. The highest moment in his career so far was accomplishing his best current personal record last year at State. He has previously won Best of Tri-County Shawnee Preps XC honoree.
Rhett’s biggest positive impact has been his best friend for getting him started with cross country and always pushing him to get better. He doesn’t have just one role model. “I am inspired by the best parts of the people that I love, like my dad’s experience, my mom’s kindness, and my best friend’s passion for running,” he says.
In his free time, Rhett likes to read books and watch movies. His favorite subject in school is English because he enjoys reading and writing. His favorite teacher is Mrs. Anderson, his junior high AP English teacher, because “she made the class fun while also teaching us more than just the curriculum,” he says. After high school, Rhett is planning to go to college but is still undecided on his area of study.
Sports have taught Rhett not to take things too seriously, to have fun, and how to be a good teammate. He says to be a great athlete it takes consistency and the passion to keep that consistency. When things get tough, Rhett reminds himself that life’s challenges are like running. He says “it might suck sometimes, but in the hard moments I can look back and see how it made me a better person, and I’m nothing without the journey.” His advice to other athletes is to “make sure that you’re enjoying yourself because that’s the point of it all.”
By Ariel Casida
