For Xaxton Carshall, football wasn’t always a given. “I watched a game and decided I wanted to try to play,” he recalled, simply adding, “I just wanted to try it.” That curiosity quickly grew into a passion for the sport, and now, as a player for Tahlequah High School, Xaxton is a key part of the team’s success and chemistry.
“We are all very close and supportive of each other,” Xaxton said about his team. This camaraderie is at the core of what makes playing for Tahlequah special, and it drives him to do his part every time he steps onto the field. “My role on the team is to do my 1/11 and build up my teammates,” Xaxton explained, emphasizing that every player plays a part. To get himself in the right mindset before each game, Xaxton has a simple ritual: “I prepare by putting on my music.”
Xaxton’s goals for the 2024 season are clear and ambitious: “My hopes and goals for this season are to make playoffs and keep moving forward from there.” His preparation is rigorous, consisting of “working out in the mornings and good hard practices in the evening.” And while he’s no stranger to success on the field, Xaxton knows that setbacks are part of the game. “You’re not always going to win, so you just keep working and keep going and going.”
One of Xaxton’s proudest moments came last season during the playoffs when he had an impressive 87-yard kickoff return. But he’s not just focused on his individual achievements. “I’m proud of getting to see my teammates become better football players and better men.”
On and off the field, Xaxton has had many influences: “My mom off the field because she is the strongest, and most hardworking person I know. On the field, Traevon Morrison and Chris Perry.”
Looking ahead, Xaxton’s future might take him in a few different directions. “In football, I don’t know where I’ll be,” he admitted, but if it doesn’t work out, he’s learning to become an electrician. “My plans after high school are to go and be an electrician,” he said, though he’s open to playing football in college if given the opportunity.
