Kanin Stoner, a sophomore at Bluejacket High School, is already building a reputation as a determined and team-first varsity athlete, grounded in discipline, family influence and a deep love for sports.
Stoner, who plays center and nose guard, embraces the physical and mental demands of his roles on the field. Lining up against opponents who are often bigger presents a constant challenge, especially when facing double teams and reading blitzes. Still, he approaches each play with confidence and preparation shaped by years of experience and guidance.
That mindset begins at home.
“My dad,” Stoner said when asked who inspires him. “My dad strives every day to be as close to perfect as he can get. His expectations for me are pretty high, and he doesn’t accept less than the best I have to give.”
He credits his father not only for pushing him physically, but also for teaching him how to think the game.
“He instills in me that the knowledge of the game is the most important piece to being an athlete,” Stoner said. “I have learned a lot from him and am so thankful that I have the dad that I have.”
Stoner’s connection to sports runs deep. Whether it is football, basketball, or even sports video games, competition and activity fill his free time. He spends much of it working out, attending summer league basketball, or simply playing with friends.
“Anything sports, honestly,” he said. “I like to do anything that has to do with sports.”
That passion carries over into his appreciation for team culture. For Stoner, being part of a team is about more than just competition.
“Knowing that I have a group of kids to hang out with, joking with, playing around with, and talking to that have the same interests as I do,” he said.
Many of those teammates have been by his side for years, forming bonds that extend well beyond the field.
“My teammates are my brothers,” Stoner said. “We have played with most of these boys since I was three years old.”
From their early days as Lil’ Chiefs to becoming Chieftains, those shared experiences have built a lasting connection.
“A lifelong bond that no one will ever be able to take away or replace,” he said.
One of Stoner’s most memorable moments came during his middle school years, a turning point that helped shape his confidence.
After a mistake on the sidelines left him frustrated during a sixth-grade game against South Coffeyville, he responded immediately upon returning to play.
“I saw a kid gunning for my quarterback,” Stoner said. “I immediately ran towards the kid and hit him so hard that I knocked him out of his shoes.”
He followed that play with another strong hit, a sequence that erased his nerves.
“That hit pretty much took care of the nerves,” he said. “I haven’t been nervous since.”
Off the field, Stoner enjoys history classes and recalls his earliest influence in education, his Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Tracey, as a favorite.
As he continues to grow as an athlete, Stoner carries lessons that extend beyond sports.
“No matter how good you are, there is always someone out there that is better,” he said. “If you want to achieve greatness, you have to put in the work.”
With a strong support system, a competitive mindset and years of chemistry with his teammates, Stoner is focused on continuing to improve one play at a time.
