Get to know Piedra Vista HS football and baseball player Kaden Peace
FARMINGTON, N.M. — Senior Kaden Peace plays on the Varsity teams at Piedra Vista High School in football and baseball. He has been playing football for four years and baseball for thirteen years. His ultimate goal is to play college baseball in hopes of one day making it to the pros. His favorite pro baseball team is the Boston Red Sox. His sports hero is Dave Ortiz who played primarily as a designated hitter and 1st baseman for the Red Sox until 2016.
His biggest challenge and driving force in sports is failure. He said, 鈥淔ailing, in something you love doing, sucks. It鈥檚 the hard work you put into the sport that makes everything work out eventually.鈥� He loves to win but he hates losing more than he loves to win. He loves the competition and the payoff of the hard work. This includes staying physically active, staying late after practice to hone skills, and doing everything he can to stay in shape.
The best advice he receives comes from his football coach, Coach Howell and the advice comes on a regular almost daily basis.聽 The coach keeps the team going with his positivity. One piece of advice that stands out is 鈥淒o not take everything for granted? You might not see tomorrow.鈥� Which means to him put your best effort into everything you do every day. The Senior motto is 鈥淜eep Pounding.鈥� Or in other words, keep going, don鈥檛 give up, and don鈥檛 look back, you are Seniors.
When he catches a break from sports, Kaden loves to hunt and fish. He also likes to travel and see other places. One of his favorite places to travel to is Jamaica. Besides the surf and the sun, it鈥檚 experiencing a whole other world with a glimpse into a totally different culture.
It has not always been smooth sailing for Kaden. In his sophomore year of baseball, he started on varsity. He struggled and got dropped down to junior varsity (JV). He worked extremely hard going into his junior season and ended up with an amazing year. He finished the season with the 2nd team all-District and 2nd all-State. This is a perfect example of how Kaden rolls. Adversity for him becomes a way to grow and become better.
His pregame ritual is putting on his headphones and visualizing the game. Music that motivates and pumps him up is rock, hard rock, hip hop, and rap, the old stuff. Being a teammate has taught him that no matter how good or bad your team is, you create a bond like family. You are with the team for practice, during the summer, and after school. You have classes together in school and travel together to games. You become family.
Kaden will tell you, 鈥淏e you and do not let anyone change that, that includes the coaches. In life we deal with many obstacles, do not let the tough times break you, but instead use those times to push yourself harder.鈥�
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.