Caitlynn Austin is a junior at Catoosa High School, where she is a powerlifter and a member of the track and field team. She is a heavyweight powerlifter and on the track team, she competes in the shot put and discus. She works hard to keep herself focused on what needs to be done in order to be successful at both sports.
“I am very motivated by the competition in sports,” she said. “The closer the competition is, the more motivating it is for me. I also try to remember to have fun no matter what sport I am doing. Keeping a positive fun attitude makes practice a fun activity instead of a requirement.”
As an athlete and as a student, Austin has had a few people that have been impactful on her life and helped her become who she is today.
“My mom is my biggest role model,” she stated. “No matter what she’s been through, she keeps pushing and she teaches me how to do the same. Also, Mr. Cheeves helped me enjoy sports again. He is a wonderful teacher, coach, and human being.”
As she reflects back on her career so far, there is a moment during powerlifting that she says was a highlight moment for her.
“This year, I achieved a 300-pound deadlift in competition for the first time,” she said. “It was an emotional moment because I had worked so hard for it. I was crying, Coach Cheeves was emotional, and it was amazing.”
Caitlyn enjoys competing for Catoosa and she looks to share her school pride and spirit any time she competes.“It’s an honor to represent my school and community,” she said. “I also appreciate all the things my school and coaches do for me to help me with my self-journey. I try to play to represent myself and my accomplishments.”
Since she is about to wrap up her junior year, Austin has already begun to plan for her post-high school days.
“I am on track to also graduate with my Mobile App Development and Fundamentals of Technology certificates from Tulsa Tech in May 2023, as well as my multimedia design certificates from Tulsa Tech in 2024. I plan to have a career in Information Technology after graduating.”
