Athlete Spotlight: Watonga Valedictorian Adalyn Hightower

Adalyn Hightower is a senior at Watonga High School. She’s on the Scholastics and Academic Bowl teams, and she is the president of Student Council. Adylyn runs cross country and does throwing in track, she cheered for the Watonga Eagles, and she was the drum major for the marching band. Adylyn was awarded football homecoming queen in the fall, and she is now preparing to graduate as valedictorian of her class.

Hightower began cheering in her junior year on a whim, but she ended up really enjoying it. “I think I just liked moving around and doing something different,” she said. She cheered for football and basketball and decided to continue doing it throughout her senior year.

Ady finished her senior year of cross country last fall as well. She had started running in the fourth grade because her older brother ran. “I got thrown into it with him,” she said. A few years later, she then started track in the sixth grade, mostly because it was one of the only things middle schoolers could do. Here, she began throwing the shot put and discus when all the kids had to try it and she showed promising qualities in it. Track is Adalyn’s favorite sport. “It’s a lot more fulfilling to me. Since I’m with one group of kids for every meet and we work together it’s a lot closer,” she said. She considers the other throwers as her “own little team.”

Coach Jim Bob Coleman has been the person she’s learned the most from in track. “He just doesn’t stop caring, he always has cared and always pushes you to do well,” she said. Although she doesn’t run in track, he’s always been there to still teach and coach her throughout the sport. Ady is with Coach Coleman year-round, which Ady gives that credit for why she has such a good relationship with him as her coach.

Ady aims to qualify for the state track meet this year, and “consistently hit over 100 feet in the discus, and then hit over 30 feet in the shot,” she said. Discus is her favorite event. “It’s more fun to mess with the technique on that one.”

After high school, Adalyn plans on going to Oklahoma State University and majoring in accounting. Her band and athletics careers will stop in high school, but nonetheless she’s still excited for her future in college. She wanted to go into accounting because it’s something that was always in the back of her mind. “Everytime I’d switch my thought, I’d always come back to accounting. There’s something just telling me to stay there,” Ady said.

She’s excited to graduate, but she’ll miss a lot of her high school days. “Some days I’m like, oh I’m gonna miss this, and other days I’m like, I really just am ready to graduate,” she said. The thing she’ll miss most of all is the people at Watonga. She loves her friends and teachers like band director Shane Johnston and English teacher Laurie Westmooreland who have both always been there to check up on her.

Adalyn has a passion for worshiping, and she loves being loved and making others feel loved. Her relationship with God has led her through life. “It’s stopped me from doing certain things, and then it’s encouraged me to do other things, and it’s really helped me with who my friends are,” Hightower said. Adalyn is very thankful for the friendships she does have. She said, “I know I wouldn’t be who I am without them.” Ady loves her family, “My parents have always encouraged me in everything I did and supported me, and whether I’ve done well or not, they’ve been proud of me,” she said. Her brother Noah is also a very encouraging aspect in her life. “My brother is always there to make me laugh,” Adalyn said.

Adalyn Hightower, 17

Grade- Senior

Family- Brian and Kristyn Hightower (parents), and Noah Hightower (brother)

Activities- STUCO, Scholastics, Academic Bowl, Cross-Country, Track and Field, Band, Cheer

Hobbies- Being outside, spending time with friends and family