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Featured Athlete of the Week: Kelly Hayden, Tennis South Putnam High School
Kelly Hayden is an 18-year old senior at South Putnam High School. Her parents are George and Madonna Hayden. She has two older brothers, Lance who is 31 and Nick who is 35.
She is on the volleyball, tennis and dance teams. Her hobbies include swimming, playing with her dog and riding her golf cart.
She is involved in NHS, Spanish club, FCCLA, FCA and the dance marathon committee.
Hayden is very well suited in school, as well. She has a 4.3 GPA and is fifth in her class.
BG: What is your favorite thing about tennis?
KH: How you can be down one to five and how you can come back and win. It's about the passion and heart.
BG: Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
KH: Probably my mom because she's always been there for me. She's always encouraged me to do my best and she's been my biggest critic, so she's not afraid to tell me something when I'm doing something wrong, which actually helps me and makes me stronger.
BG: What is your favorite high school memory?
KH: It not necessarily a good thing, but it's actually embarrassing. I played an April Fool's joke on my coach last year. I pretended to be pregnant with his son's child. It made him really mad. It's definitely one of my most favorite memories.
BG: What has been your biggest lesson that you have learned from sports?
KH: Never give up on yourself. Always persevere.
BG: What is your favorite sport?
KH: Volleyball. My mom played it when she was in high school, so she's the one that encouraged me from middle school and I just love the feeling of being able to kill the ball in someone's face.
BG: What are your plans after high school?
KH: I plan to attend ISU and I'm going into the occupational therapy field.