Okarche’s Blakeley Stephens
Ninth grader Blakeley Stephens is already juggling a full schedule at Okarche High School, splitting her time between running the varsity basketball offense and building her future through FFA. On the court, she plays both point guard and shooting guard, embracing the responsibility that comes with handling the ball and setting up her teammates. “The hardest parts are handling the ball under pressure, being tough, and making post entry passes,” Stephens said.
Stephens said the people around her shape the way she approaches both sports and leadership. “I’d say the people who surround me inspire me the most,” she said. “They work really hard and stay dedicated, even when things get stressful, and that pushes me to do better.” That same support system is a big part of why she loves her basketball team. “We all push each other to be the best we can be, whether it’s on or off the court,” she said.
“Everyone always has each other’s backs, especially during hard practices or close games.”
She credits teammates for keeping the team energized and connected. “Katie is definitely the most vocal teammate, and Logan is the one who always keeps everyone laughing,” Stephens said. Off the court, she said she enjoys hanging out with friends whenever she has free time. In the classroom, her favorite subject is science, and she names Mrs. Ullom as her favorite teacher.
Stephens is just as busy in FFA as she is in the gym. “I mainly show cattle, but I also do speech and plan to participate in floriculture and beef judging next year,” she said. She said the organization has given her friendships and experiences that go beyond competition. “I really enjoy the friends and memories I make in FFA,” she said. “I like learning new things and gaining life-long experience, but the people I meet are what make it the most fun and meaningful for me.”
Balancing basketball and FFA, Stephens said, has already taught her lessons she will carry beyond high school. “It can be hard and stressful to balance basketball and then come home and do FFA activities, but it has to be done,” she said. “I’ve also learned how important teamwork is, because that’s a life skill you’ll use for the rest of your life.”
