Chat Hayes: Grove Athlete of the Month – Presented by Grove Dental Associates

By Derrick Smith

The Grove Athlete of the Month is Grove High School senior Chat Hayes. He is a dual-sport athlete for the Ridgerunners, playing both baseball and basketball. For the baseball team, he is a pitcher and also plays some at first base. On the basketball court, he plays mostly guard.

Throughout the years, there have been people that have made impacts on Chat’s life. Two of them stand out above the rest.

“My parents, Stoney & Margie Hayes, have been the biggest role models in my life,” he said. “They both have taught me perseverance while also teaching me how to love and become a man.”

The success and growth that Chat has had on the baseball diamond and basketball court has only been achieved because of his hard work.

“I spend a lot of hours in the weight room,” he stated. “And I spend a bunch of my own time perfecting my craft whether it’s basketball or baseball.”

Chat’s biggest moment of his career so far has been reaching one of goals his team had set for themselves.

“The highlight moment so far has definitely been making it to the baseball state tournament.”

Throughout his time in school, Hayes has had many great teachers, but there is one that stands out.

“My favorite teacher is Danae Hardy,” he said. “In her math class, she taught me to study longer and work harder to stay as an achieving student.”

Outside of athletics, Chat is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and he is taking concurrent enrollment classes at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO).

After graduation, Hayes is committed to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and play baseball for the Golden Lions.

“I chose Pine Bluff because they play major division one schools like TCU and Ole Miss and I want to play against the best.”

 

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