By Derrick Smith

Throughout the career of an athlete, some people make an impact on their life. Whether this role model is someone they watch from a distance or is someone they know personally, their effect on the athlete’s life can be big. Faith Russell says that her coach is one of the biggest influences on her life. 

“Jeff Allen has been my travel softball coach for twelve years,” she said. “He is a competitor and hates losing and has taught me more than just softball.  He has taught me how to succeed in softball and off the field as well. I was a huge baby when I started playing softball and he was the tough, get in your face coach I needed to toughen me up.”

Russell is a senior at Jenks High School where she plays the middle infield for the Lady Trojans softball team. In her thirteenth year of playing softball, Faith says that she enjoys every time she steps on the field. 

While coach Allen has helped her, Russell has had to do a lot of work to become the player she is today. 

“It has taken a lot of practice and extra work,” she said. “I have had to make a lot of sacrifices to get here.”

Being a student at Jenks, Russell has sat through many classes and listened to a lot of teachers. She says that there is one teacher that stands out as her favorite.

“I have had several favorite teachers,” she said. “But I would say that my AP Lang and Comp teacher Karen Workun is definitely at the top of the list. She taught me and my classmates how to be good and genuine people outside of the classroom. Her class was more than a required subject I had to take.”

Along with softball, Russell is also a member of the National Honor Society, student council, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Drug-Free Youth, and the Native American Club. Faith also excels in the classroom. She has been on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll every year and she maintains a 4.0-grade point average.