By Liz Contreras
Senior James Huffmyer has played football for a decade bringing leadership, intentionality, and a deep sense of purpose to the field. Playing as receiver and safety for Oklahoma Christian School (OCS), he has made his mark on both sides of the ball.
To Huffmyer, excellence isn’t just about athletic performance—it’s about preparation, sacrifice and the people beside him.
“Being a part of a team for me means sacrificing for your teammates,” explains Huffmyer. “A team plays for each other, not for themselves—which is why it’s special.”
Transferring from Edmond Public Schools to OCS was a pivotal decision. “The biggest risk I took as a player was moving to OCS,” he said. “It was a hard decision because I had many friends at my old school, but coming here has allowed me to grow a lot in my faith.”
He credits that growth in part to Bible study teacher Dave Mehlhaff, a steady influence this past year, and says the team’s shared values are one of the program’s greatest strengths.
“Our coaches and players make it a priority to serve Christ and others well—which doesn’t show up on the scoreboard,” Huffmyer says.
Outside of football, Huffmyer serves as Student Council president, helping lead various school events and initiatives. His leadership extends beyond titles—when obstacles come, he meets them head-on.
This past spring, he was challenged academically. “I hadn’t met my goals. I realized I could either be okay with a B or study even more.” He chose the latter—spending lunches watching tutorials and finishing the year with A’s in both classes.
That’s the kind of mental toughness Huffmyer believes defines a competitor. “It’s about your response to adversity,” he said. “You can either take accountability and learn or make excuses and not change.”
As he prepares for graduation, Huffmyer isn’t entirely sure what’s next—but he plans to study engineering and carry the lessons of football, faith, and leadership with him wherever he goes.
