Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

The Kent Reporter athletes of the week for the week of Apr. 25 are from Kentridge; Aayla Johnson-Souza (Sr.) Track and Field and Cody Stoner (Sr.) Soccer.

What do you value in your sport or about your team?

Stoner: Everybody on this team gives their best effort every day and we all play for each other. I am proud to be a part of it and I look forward to playing every chance that I get.

Johnson-Souza: I truly value this sport—track and field has taught me so much: how to push through challenges, stay determined, and build meaningful friendships. I also deeply appreciate my team. They’ve taught me a lot, not just my current teammates, but those I’ve had in the past as well. There’s always a sense of support; everyone is there for each other. If I am having a bad day I can count on my team to make it 100 times better.

What have you learned from your sport that you can take with you throughout your life/future?

Stoner: I’ve learned to enjoy the good times. These past 4 years I’ve been fortunate enough to play with my friends on the same high school team, and I’ll remember these days forever.

Johnson-Souza: Track and field has taught me the importance of discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness. I’ve learned how to stay focused on my goals, even when things get difficult, and how to push through challenges with determination. It’s also shown me the value of teamwork and support, which are things I know I’ll carry with me in all areas of life—whether it’s in my career, relationships, or personal growth.

What do you do when you aren’t motivated and what helps you stay motivated?

Stoner: When I’m not feeling motivated to do something, I try to think about the outcome of not taking action. For me, the best motivation is the feeling of not wanting to let my teammates down, so whenever I feel tired or discouraged I get my second wind from that.

Johnson-Souza: I take a moment to center myself and remind myself of what I’m capable of—that I can do it. I refocus on my goals and keep pushing forward.

Do you have a favorite pre-game meal?

Stoner: Subway or fruit bowl

Johnson-Souza: My favorite pre-game meal is actually no meal at all! I think it’s a nerves thing—it makes me so focused on the competition that eating is the last thing on my mind.

What advice would you give to a teammate that is struggling?

Stoner: Keep your head up and get back to it. The person that cares the most about your mistake is yourself, so don’t be too hard.

Johnson-Souza: Hurdling is tough—and honestly, track and field as a whole can be really challenging. Giving advice and supporting each other is part of the everyday routine. I do my best to lift people up and demonstrate the fundamental skills that can help anyone grow as an athlete. Everyone has potential—sometimes they just need a little help to bring it out.

From the sidelines:

Stoner: Cody has demonstrated courage, determination, strength combined with technical abilities, skill, and athleticism all season. His ability to score important goals has contributed to our teams success. While also creating space and time for his teammates to succeed. He has been a determined leader towards our teams objectives.

Johnson-Souza: Ayla is deserving of the athlete of the week because she is the most versatile, reliable and all around athlete that we have had on our team in quite some time. She runs the hurdles, 100H and 300H, the 4 x 1, 4 x 4, and has competed in a heptathlon. She has been a captain of the hurdlers for 3 years. Ayla is well liked by her peers and a true leader with the new athletes on the team, helping with teaching warm-up drills and hurdle skills. She is at practice everyday and is an example for everyone with her work ethic and commitment to the team – excellent student/athlete!