Gracen Shelton – Commerce Basketball
By Trina Walker
Sports have always been part of Gracen Shelton’s life. He remembers playing when he was around four years old. Having three older brothers and both parents who were themselves high school athletes, Gracen says there was no other option but for him to also become an athlete.
Gracen is a senior at Commerce High School. He is the quarterback on his football team and the point guard for the CHS basketball team. He embraces the positions he plays. “I like taking control of the team,” he says.
He has learned valuable lessons from football and basketball that he uses in his daily life. “Discipline, respect, character,” he says are character traits he has learned playing sports.
“ ”Having played his entire life, Gracen is passionate about sports. His favorite part of playing on a team is creating memories. “My favorite memory has to be our home opener last year beating Afton in overtime,” said Gracen.
The athlete he looks up to is former NBA player Derrick Rose. Gracen admires Rose’s determination to keep going after suffering a bad injury. His favorite teacher is Chris Cawyer. “He was my fitness teacher, he made the class fun,” says Gracen.
The person Gracen is most inspired by is his father. He wants to acknowledge the many people who support and care for him. “I want to say thank you to my dad, mom, grandparents, and brothers. If it wasn’t for all of them, I wouldn’t be the athlete that I am,” he said.
The dream vacation Gracen would like to take is to Hawaii and he would take his girlfriend, Kennedy. His favorite food is boneless buffalo wings, fries, carrots and celery.
In addition to playing football and basketball Gracen is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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