Vaisagote, Pritchett work to be leaders at LHS

Lawton High senior football players Pene Vaisagote and Joseph Pritchett work hard to keep themselves and others on the Wolverines motivated and put in the work each and every week.

Vaisagote plays wide receiver and safety for the Wolverines and is also a member of the Lawton High basketball team. In his spare time, he also likes to play video games with teammates. After high school, he plans on going to college for athletics, but he hasn’t decided where yet. His decision might come down to what schools have the degree he wants.

“I’m going to go to college, but I don’t know where yet or for which sport. I want to do nuclear technology for my study because my uncle works in that and he can help me in the long run,” said Vaisagote.

Coming into his senior season, Vaisagote knows it’s his last ride and that he has to give it all he’s got. He’s determined to make this a season to remember.

“It makes me go into games with a chip on my shoulder. It’s my senior year so I’ve got to leave it all out there and show what I’ve been working on and perfecting over the summer and trying to lead the team,” said Vaisagote

In terms of motivation, he said that he relies on faith and his loved ones to give it his all every week.

“My Lord and savior has kept me at peace through my grandpa. He prayed for me all my life and since he passed away, that’s made me more motivated. I’m doing it for him.”

Vaisagote said that in order to win every week the team has to be of the same mindset well before gamedays. Winning comes down to who comes into the game on the same page.

“It’s going to come down to who’s most prepared. We come in on weekends to go over film and go over new things and things to look out for in the upcoming game.”

Advice he’d give to his teammates is to understand that things can take time. Working hard every day and keeping a strong mental will get you far.

“Your mental has to be strong. There’s going to be times where you’re going to be discouraged…mentally you have to be aware that it takes time to get to your spot.”

As a team, Vaisagote said that everyone comes in and does it for each other. They understand how hard it is but push each other to do their best.

“You look at the person next to you and think ‘he’s here, so I’m going to do it for him because he’s doing it for me.’ I’ve got to be here to keep going and push harder because we’re all trying to reach the same goal.”

“On Friday nights I love how the sun sets. It reminds me of back home and I’m from Samoa so when it sets, I feel like my grandpa is there with me. My family there and the band banging is a good feeling.”

Left Tackle Joseph Pritchett is in his senior season at Lawton High and is playing for the first time since sixth grade. In his free time he likes to go fishing or play video games. He said that motivation to play came from his teammates and that he’s enjoyed every second. After high school Pritchett might go to college, but if not, he has plans to get his Certified Drivers License (CDL) and drive trucks.

In his senior season, he understands that he is a role model even though it is his first season for the Wolverines. When someone makes a mistake, he believes in coming together to fix them.

“It makes you want to be a leader and give it all you’ve got. As a team, you’ve got to learn from mistakes, and you do that by working things out as a group,” said Pritchett.

Pritchett relies on faith to keep him going, but his teammates keep his head high on his worst days. He always makes it a point to do the same for his teammates.

“Keep God first, but motivation comes from within. I want to quit sometimes but my teammates help me keep my head up and so I look out for them too.”

He’s learned in his time for Lawton High, that keeping a mental focus can get you where you want to go. As a team, mental toughness gets you through hard times.

“Our biggest thing is our mental. The biggest thing is keeping your mental afloat, once something goes bad you can get off track and its hard to get back on it.”

For his teammates, Pritchett advises them to keep grades up to keep playing football because it won’t always be there.

“I just tell them to keep grades up. Not everyone is going to make it big playing football, so I always try to tell them you need a backup plan.”

Pritchett has grown a love for Wolverine football and appreciates the bond he’s formed with his teammates.

“I tell the guys all the time I love each and every one of them.”