Athlete Spotlight: Maddox Finds Home Outdoors and on the Baseball Field

Kyler Maddox is a senior at Watonga High School and is looking forward to his upcoming baseball season. He is an outdoorsman and can always find himself hunting or fishing. Kyler is in the marching band, and he is gearing up for graduating this spring.

His step-dad was the driving factor that got him into baseball in the first place. When he was younger, it was more of something he did because his parents told him to, but as he grew up, he found a real love and respect for the sport. Now, 13 years of playing have led up to his senior year. “It was something to do, but now it’s just more than that. Now it's something I plan to do in college,” Maddox said. His step-dad, Chris, was also the biggest influence in his life when it came to baseball.

“He just always had me out there at the field, playing catch or hitting,” Kyler said.

Maddox has been starting on the baseball team since his freshman year, which he said was “rough,” due to having to adapt quickly to high school baseball. However, this only helped him in the end, as he now feels comfortable in his position, second base. “Sophomore and Junior year, they all went pretty well,” he said. This year, Kyler aims to have a batting average of .350, and to have a winning record with his team. He also aims to “have a chemistry that we haven’t had in a while” with his team. Coach John Cope has been a big help in Kyler's baseball career. “He’s always getting me up here at the field or at the barn,” he said. Cope and Maddox have a close relationship, as Kyler often goes to help him with anything personal Cope might need.

Baseball is something that keeps Kyler in line. It gives him something to focus on and something to learn from. For example, it’s taught him to be on time and keep up with things, and to be accountable. “I think it’s done pretty well for me actually. I think it’s taught me to be calm and it’s definitely taught me patience because baseball is a timely sport,” he said.

Maddox plans to get a criminal justice degree, and he aspires to be a second baseman for Southwestern Oklahoma University. He wants to become a conservation officer, and remain outdoors.

Kyler considers himself “outgoing” around people he knows, but is “introverted” around others. “I stay original. I talk to the people I talk to, I do the same things I’ve done always. … I just stay calm and do my own thing,” he said. He’s very close with his mom, Karly. “It’s always been me and her,” Maddox said. They can always tell things about each other that no one else can, and she’s always been as supportive as she can be. “We’ve always just kinda been there for each other.” Although she can’t help him much with the playing aspect in baseball, she’s always been the person to sign him up for whatever he wants to go to, and buy him whatever he needs for the season. Kyler says that he’s had a good life, although money didn’t come easy. “We were always happy, we were always enjoying things,” he said. He gives the credit for his upbringing to his mom and his grandma. “They did a great job of raising me I think.”

Kyler Maddox, 17 Grade-Senior Family-Chris and Karly (parents), Kaylee Richards, Koltyn and Kathryn (siblings)

Activities-Marching Band, Baseball, NHS, Scholastics Team, Quiz Bowl, Heritage Club, Football, Wrestling Hobbies-Baseball, being outdoors