VYPE: Can you tell us a bit about your background, both in terms of academics and sports?

McKade Peery: I’ve had good grades my whole life and plan on going to college. I have also played basketball, baseball and football my whole life up until last year. I only played football and basketball.

VYPE: What inspired you to start playing your sport?

MP: I’ve always just love competitive stuff. My older brothers were also good at sports, so I think they inspired me a little bit too.

VYPE: Which athlete, professional or otherwise, do you look up to and why?

MP: There’s no current athlete that I look up to as of right now.

VYPE: How do you balance the demands of academics and athletics in your daily schedule?

MP: I always make sure and get my schoolwork done before everything else. I put school first.

VYPE: Can you share a memorable moment or achievement from your high school sports career that stands out to you?

MP: Last year in football, we beat a private school for the first time in our school’s history. I felt like that was a very memorable moment for all of us.

VYPE: What challenges have you faced in your sports journey, and how did you overcome them?

MP: I have faced the challenge of injury. This football season, I was injured for most of it. I still went out on the field and gave everything I had. It was frustrating, but my teammates had my back.

VYPE: How has being part of a team influenced your personal growth and character development?

MP: Being on a team has helped me learn to work with anyone. It has also taught me leadership skills. Sports has taught me to make the people I work with my family.

VYPE: Are there any specific rituals or routines you follow before a game or competition to prepare yourself mentally and physically?

MP: I always stretch before any game and eat specific foods.

VYPE: What role do your coaches play in your development as an athlete, and is there a particular coach who has been especially influential?

MP: All my coaches have played a huge role in my life as an athlete. Coach Cade Shearwood has had the biggest influence on me.