Some athletes find motivation in medals or records. For Clinton High School sophomore Aracelie Chavez, it’s something far deeper. “Knowing if I keep pushing I could help my family,” she said. “Watching everyone watch my step by step and waiting for me to make it to the top.”
A dual-sport athlete competing in both volleyball and track, Aracelie throws shot put and discus for the Red Tornadoes. She also contributes on the volleyball court as a right-side hitter, bringing energy and determination to both fields of competition.
When asked who’s inspired her most along the way, Aracelie didn’t hesitate. “My biggest role model is Kat Mechem,” she shared. “She’s a great team member and when we used to throw with her, she was just a really positive person. Even when she knew she could do better she always had a smile on her face and was encouraging other people.”
That spirit of encouragement is something Aracelie also recognizes in the classroom, particularly from one teacher. “Mr. Martinez… anytime I talk to him about my sports he’s always being the positive,” she said. “He can’t wait to turn on the radio and hear my name and see what I succeed in. A lot of teachers don’t care about your sports, but Mr. Martinez was excited to see where I go.”
Aracelie’s high school career started with a bang—she placed second or third at most track meets as a freshman and qualified for state her first year. “To get out of my head and work even when nobody’s watching” has been key to her success, she said.
Representing Clinton means everything to her. “Even though it’s just a little C across my chest, it means that there’s a whole community cheering for me,” she said. “At the end of the day I do it for the ones who couldn’t.”
Her advice? “When you think you can’t do it anymore and just want to quit what you love—don’t. You’ll be at the bottom, but that’s a challenge that the Creator is doing to see how strong you are.”
Aracelie Chavez is proving that strength every single day.