By Derrick Smith

Success is something every athlete works hard to achieve. The sacrifice and hard work  pays off when the goal is reached. Jayda Payne says that as an athlete in team sports, team chemistry if really important.

“The best way for our squad to be successful is to work as a team, both on and off the field,” she said. “You also have to keep going even when things look bad and you have to give it your all.”

Payne is a sophomore at Daniel Webster High School, where she is a multisport athlete. She switches between center, mid, forward, defense, and left-wing on the Warriors’ soccer team. She is also a member of the varsity cheer team. 

Throughout her life, there have been a variety of people who have had an impact on Jayda’s life and have helped shape her into the person she is today.

“Some of the biggest influences on my life are people in my church,” she said. “My Sunday School teacher and youth leader, Tara Summers, influences me because of her optimistic attitude and her perseverance even when things don’t seem to go well. My family influences me, because obviously, I’m with them a lot. They influence me because they have shown me that I don’t have to be perfect to be loved, and we can have different opinions and still get along and love each other. My coaches at school, coach Lori Wixon and coach Derek Phillips are huge influences for me. They have shown me how to be involved in team work and collaborate with others for success.”

Outside of school, Payne has things that keep her busy. She attends West Tulsa Free Will Baptist Church, where her dad is the pastor. She is also a member of the church’s youth group, H20.

“With our youth group, I have had the opportunity to perform a lot of community service,” she said. “I have worked in community carnivals, food drives, and Hot Food for the Homeless. That is where we serve hot breakfast and take it to people who are living under a bridge near our church.”