For senior Trey Wilkinson playing baseball was probably always meant to be because his father, Phillip, is a baseball coach and is currently the coach at Coalgate. Trey has also been a skilled football player but decided to focus strictly on baseball this year.
“Even though I didn’t play football this year my experience from being successful in one sport and going to another is that it makes you hungry to win and to just keep working harder. It gives you a bond with your teammates and makes everyone come together,” said Trey who is also in the National Honor Society, student council and takes part in community service projects.
Being a successful athlete requires a lot of hard work and dedication and the ability to learn from your failures according to Wilkinson.
“Success is going out and giving it your all and doing everything correctly as a team and learning from your mistakes whether it means you win or you lose.”
Part of being successful means exhibiting good character on and off the field according to Trey.
“Character defines you as a person and as an athlete. Having good character in sports and in life means that things aren’t always going to go as planned but you need to raise morale and pick up your teammates and yourself to overcome that. You treat people fairly and stick up for others who are not be able to. You work hard even when others aren’t looking.”
As a young Wildcat, Trey found a role model in one of his teammates.
“My favorite athlete is former Wildcat Austin Lambert who now plays baseball at UCO. He was a senior when I was a freshman and he showed me what it meant to be a leader and to work hard.”
Trey has a group of folks who help motivate him.
“My entire family-mom, dad, and my younger siblings-have shaped me into the person I am today. They’ve been with me every step of the way and taught me what’s right and wrong.”
Trey thinks of himself as being a leader, humble and, most of all, a hard worker.
“If you’re a hard worker, it helps you and your team and it can make others around you work hard too.”
As he gets ready to leave Coalgate, Trey knows how he would like to be remembered.
“I want my legacy to be that I was a good teammate and friend and that I was a hard-working athlete and respectful.”
