Mississippi high school football player shows passion, determination help to power outsized performance
A Mississippi high school football player is showing how passion and determination can help the big competition on the field.
Defensive ends Tripp Van Fossen and Kicker Kruz McKee are teammates of the West Jones High School Broncos football team in Laurel, Mississippi.
A picture of the season shows two friends and the player, Van Fossen lifts McKee.
McGee said of the photo: “Okay, we’re trying to think of a celebration. We decided in Simba, where you can see animals holding the little lion in ‘The Lion King’.”
Brad Crowe, Laurel Leader Calls
Van Fossen stood at 6’3″ while McKee was only 5’3″. He said sometimes people think he is not a real football player or someone’s younger brother.
“I just didn’t pay much attention to it,” he said.
McKee carries his little frame with determination and confidence, the traits of natural achievement his mother said.
“I think it’s his,” Kelley McKee said. “He’s been determined, you know he has a driving force for him, people describe him as courage, and I really think that’s driving him The courage.”
Become a team
McKee became a college football team for sophomore, but wasn’t always sure he belonged there.
He explained: “I was so scared, I thought I was too young. I’m going to wait next year.”
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His coach, Corey Reynolds, helped McKee instill confidence in himself. Reynolds saw McKee, a freshman at the time, and his father practiced kicking because they thought no one was watching.
I asked him, “Hey, what grade are you in?” When he said he was in No. 9, you know, just a kid, and I said, ‘Oh, wow,”,” Reynolds said of their interaction Say, “I said, ‘Why don’t you come out to play football? ‘He said, “I’m too young.” I said, “Who said?”
McGee eventually became a college team for the bench in the second year.
Van Fossen said of his friends and teammates: “I know this is going to happen. He is a very hardworking person. He never really missed any practice, he just persevered.”
The starting kick injury earlier this season gave elementary school sophomore a chance to show what he could do.
McGee admitted that initially, he was frightened at the football field. In his first game, he missed the first inning.
“He misses, let your head kick off. You’re going to kick another here as soon as possible, so don’t worry,” Reynolds said.
Persevere throughout the season
McGee knew he couldn’t let a lady influence him. In the regular season, he went on to earn 23 nails on the next 24 kicks, then scored two more in the Broncos’ only playoff game.
For Reynolds, he was glad McGee had the opportunity to show off his talent.
“This is one of the great things in this country. It’s about opportunity. You have the opportunity to do something. There’s nothing to give you for free. You have to go and make money.”
It turns out that he is not only the one who watches, but also to McKee belongs to him.
He said: “I just want people to see that it’s not too small in size, I mean, God did all this for me, He just gave me everything I have.”
