VYPE: Lailoni, what grade are you in, what position do you play and when did you start playing softball?
Lailoni Horton: I am currently in the 11th grade. I play Center field, I started playing softball three years ago my freshman year of high school.
VYPE: What is your favorite memory as a student-athlete at DCHS?
LH: My favorite memory is simply the long bus drives with the team. I’ve had the best conversations, karaoke, and just fun times overall. But if I wanted to be more specific maybe my first home run, I hit this season. That is super memorable not just for me but also for my teammates. We all support each other and just by me hitting a homerun it spoke volumes of the capability of our team.
VYPE: Do you have a favorite subject or teacher in school?
LH: My favorite subject is math because it’s been easy for me to do entering high school. I like algebra. My favorite teacher is Mrs. Cooper.
VYPE: What makes DCHS a great place to be a student-athlete?
LH: Del City is a great place for me as a student-athlete. The reason why is that all the coaches make sure you prioritize school before stepping on the field, and when we do step on the field, we go by CDEPT (commitment, discipline, effort, pride, toughness). Those five pillars are drilled into my brain. I used them daily. I probably wouldn’t be the athlete that I am today without them. Our school’s summer workouts are where I learned to implement them. I have no clue what other schools do but all I know is Del City makes sure our grades are up to par and that we make it as adults and athletes.
VYPE: Was there a teammate that really impressed you this season?
LH: My teammate Zamora has done some pretty good things this season. She hit her first home run and made some insane double plays look easy.
VYPE: Which teammate keeps everyone laughing and who is the most serious?
LH: We’re all very funny. I can’t choose a specific person. There’s not one day that we go without laughing at something. For the most serious I would say myself because I do love softball and I love to always try my hardest since I am co-captain, I have to be a leader and be an example for the rest of the team.
VYPE: How do you mentally prepare yourself for competition?
LH: To mentally prepare I just keep my mind on the game. It doesn’t matter the time, as long as I’m thinking about what I came to do for my teammates. Through warm-ups, I imagine I’m in the game so when I’m out there I can handle business and trust my abilities.
VYPE: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
LH: The best advice I ever received was from my gymnastics coach, Coach Ron. He always said, “It’s all about the little things” and I carry that with me. I’ve learned that life is easier when you focus on the little things and the bigger things become a piece of cake.
VYPE: What is the goal for life after high school?
LH: My goal after high school is to help others in some way. I want others to be lifted. Including the upcoming youth because of the guidance that I’ve received in my youth, and I recognize that it is a valuable contribution to society and the future.
