DALE, Oklv. – Kaleigh Strange (Mvskoke) attends Dale High School. She is a junior student athlete who plays point guard on the basketball team, the Dale Pirates. Her team received second place in the Class 2A girl’s basketball state championship in March.
Strange’s maternal grandparents are the late Kelly Bell (Mvskoke/Seminole), also known as “Mekko Bell” from Fishpond and Esther Bell (Mvskoke). Her paternal grandfather is Jim Strange, her parents are Lisa Strange (Mvskoke/Seminole) and Tyson Strange.
Kaleigh Strange has played basketball since she was in fifth grade. Ever since she started playing the sport she has always looked up to her dad, who taught her different basketball skills and techniques. A typical school week during a season sees a lot of practices that consist of different drills including conditioning and shooting. Kayleigh Strange’s team practices after school, during school breaks and occasionally on weekends when it gets closer to the playoffs.
When she first started playing basketball, Kayleigh Strange learned a lot about teamwork. “Probably the most important thing you need to have for a team is the chemistry to work together to help you win,” Kayleigh Strange said.
Kayleigh Strange tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during her 9th grade basketball season. The injury took nine months of physical rehabilitation. Kayleigh Strange was not able to return to the court until her sophomore year. During the whole year she had to wear a brace after completing rehab, but eventually returned back better than ever to play on the court without the brace.
Throughout the championship game Kayleigh Strange was filled with emotions and excitement. Although her team did not end up winning the championship, Kayleigh Strange still looked up to her friends to keep pushing through the entire game.
Kayleigh Strange’s advice for athletes is to keep moving forward. “if you think you’re doing bad just keep your head up and everything will be okay and it’ll work through. Work hard and all the work you put into it, it’s going to work out,” Kayleigh Strange said.
Moving forward Kayleigh Strange is hoping to one day become a college student athlete, however she does not know which college she will attend yet. When she becomes a senior next year she hopes to become a great leader to her teammates and carry this year’s momentum to win next year’s state championship.
