Choctaw’s Payton Carrillo
For Payton Carrillo, four years of varsity softball at Choctaw High School have been about far more than the game itself.
The senior shortstop and utility player for the Lady Yellowjackets has spent her entire high school career on the varsity diamond — and along the way, she earned one of the sport’s most coveted individual honors in Oklahoma: an All-State selection.
“A memory I am most proud of is becoming an All-Stater,” Carrillo said. “It has been my goal since my freshman year and achieving that through adversity has been a huge accomplishment to me.”
Carrillo said the sport has shaped her both on and off the field, instilling values she carries beyond the white chalk lines of the diamond.
“It has taught me to be humble and grateful for the opportunities I get,” she said. “It’s taught me work ethic and to always think on the positive side of things and to respect others, because things can change very fast, and you may never get the chance again.”
That perspective, Carrillo said, was built in part by watching the person closest to her — her mother.
“My mom inspires me because she is selfless and has always shown me what it means to show up even on the hard days,” Carrillo said. “The countless hours she has poured into me and my success has made me want to do better and be better in all aspects of life.”
Among her Lady Yellowjacket teammates, Carrillo said one player in particular has left a lasting mark on her.
“The teammate that has left the biggest impression on me is still a current teammate, Anna Malaske,” Carrillo said. “She is just a straight dog — never afraid to get in the fight when things go wrong, and I think that’s someone you want to have in your corner not only for sports but in life.”
On a broader scale, Carrillo said playing for Choctaw has meant something that extends beyond herself and her team.
“My favorite part is that I’m not only representing my sport or school but a community that shows up for us every day,” she said.
As her senior season winds down, Carrillo offered a heartfelt message to those who made her journey possible.
“I want to say thank you to my mom and my family — your sacrifices have created my success,” she said. “All the blood, sweat and tears has paid off, and if it hasn’t then it will. I love y’all for always believing in me, even when it sounded out of reach or impossible.”
