Athlete Spotlight: Film Lover and Senior Joseph Kalicki

Joseph Kalicki is a senior at Watonga High School and aspires to be involved in film production in the future. He plays baseball, and is in a number of organizations like the National Honors Society, Student Council, Academic Bowl, a number of others. He’s ready to graduate and go up to the city, which will be the biggest change of his life. He enjoys theater, hanging out with friends and girlfriend Brailey Cowan, and working. Joseph enjoys helping people, and seeing people smile. “I like volun teering a lot, I just like seeing people happy,” he said.

He started baseball at 4 where his dad, the late Brandon Kalicki coached him all the way up until school ball started. Having his dad as a coach was “tiresome” to say the least. “First one there, last to leave, everyday for the summer,” Joe said. However, it made him a better player, and it’s always been the sport that he was best at, which is why he’s stuck with it to his senior year. Baseball isn’t something Joe is going to continue in college, but he looks forward to ending his baseball career with a good season.

His favorite thing about baseball is the team and the talks on the bus rides, and how it’s one of the more “chill” sports. He’s really close to his infield specifically, as those boys have all played together since kids. “Me, Peter (Kyler), Josh, and Wyatt, the starters this year, have played together since middle school baseball started. We’ve always been starting together since 7th grade all the way through high school,” he said. He loves the team atmosphere and being a part of it. “You know the phrase ‘Just Dudes Being Dudes?’ It’s what it feels like,” Joe said.

This season he was a little late to the baseball field due to an old pinky injury that wouldn’t heal right. In the first basketball game of last season he caught a pass, which broke his pinky. It was initially supposed to be a short injury, but it refused to heal correctly until after a few months.

After high school, Joseph is planning to go to Oklahoma City Community College and major in Digital Film Production. This wasn’t always his big plan. Initially, he wanted to be a teacher for most of his life, but his love for movies changed his mind. He’ll learn all of the skills needed to go into the making of movies and shows, “both behind the scenes and in front of the camera,” he said. He’s always enjoyed movies and storytelling. “Stories are an escape,” Kalicki said. “I’m gonna miss Watonga and its simplicities,” Joe said. He doesn’t like change, and college will be the biggest change he’s had in a long time. His high school years went by fast for him, and graduation seems a bit scary, because, “I just don’t like change,” he said.

Joseph lost his dad not too long ago, but he still remains of the people who have affected him the most in life. His mom has also always been there for him for emotional support. “A month ago I was just like … I wanna go do movie stuff instead … and she wasn’t upset. She just supports me in whatever I wanna do,” he said.

Joseph Kalicki, 18

Grade- Senior

Family- Shanna and the late Brandon Kalicki (parents), Kaitlynn Kalicki (sister)

Activities- NHS, OHS, Scholastics Team, Academic Bowl, STUCO, Baseball

Hobbies- Hanging with friends and girlfriend, theater, working