By Derrick Smith

Most athletes join an athletic team because they enjoy playing a specific sport or they want to learn how to play that sport. While learning about sports is good, Leslie Clayton says that kids can learn a lot more than how to play the game.

“Kids learn a lot of lifelong lessons by being involved in sports,” she said. “They learn respect for others, teamwork, accountability, hard work, and dependability.”

Clayton is the mother of three children, one that is still in high school.

“My daughter Amanda graduated from Salina South High School in 2015. She participated in volleyball and weightlifting when she was in school. Megan graduated from Salina South in 2018. She played volleyball and was a four-time state champion in weightlifting. Nick, my youngest, is a senior this year at Salina Central High School. He plays football, baseball, and track.”

Splitting her time between watching her kids participate and helping out however possible is something that Leslie enjoys being able to do.

“I enjoy watching our children play in their sports past and present,” she said. “I have helped with Thursday night and game day team meals, helped organize t-shirt sales, set up for Friday night football games, and planned the end of year banquet. We have a group of senior mom’s that help organize events and fundraisers for the football team. We get help from other parents and are able to make each football season memorable.”