When a student participates in athletics, they do more than just learn about and improve at their sport.

Kelly Bales is a mother of two and she says that athletics teach a lot of lessons that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

“I feel it’s important to prioritize activities and athletics, in addition to academics, to provide a creative outlet for the children as they grow into young adults,” Bales said. “Team sports encourage collaboration, dedication, and responsibility and instill a sense of pride in the individual and the team as a whole. Whether they win or lose on the field, they will walk away with more character and appreciation than they will immediately realize and that is the foundation for success.”

Bales, her husband, and her son each graduated from Ponca City High School. Her daughter, Tootie, is currently a sophomore at Ponca City.

“My son Gavyn is a sophomore at Oklahoma State pursuing a degree in Public Health,” Bales said. “A lifelong soccer player and Ponca City alumni, he now competes in the university intramural soccer leagues and still returns to his home club here in Ponca City to compete in tournaments with his friends. Our daughter, Tootie, has been a competitive cheerleader since the age of five, she has competed on the biggest stages but remains humble at heart. A member of the varsity cheer team, she still competes all while pursuing her new passion, wrestling as a member of the Ladycats’ wrestling team.”

As a former student at Ponca City, Bales is proud of her community and raising her kids in the same district she attended.

“Ponca City High School is rich in tradition and success that continues to build and grow,” she said. “I’ve been blessed to see my children and students walk the halls I’ve walked before, cheer on the teams I’ve cheered on before and walk across the stage to receive their diplomas on the same stage I did years ago.

“Every single one of these students will make their own impact on this campus and community as they prepare for the next step in life and I will cheer them on at every step. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”