Dale senior Hunter Watkins is already well into following his dream of being a firefighter.
He’s currently taking classes at Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center (EOC) for his Firefight I and II certifications, while volunteering with the McLoud Fire District alongside his father. He starts his days with EOC training and was recently chosen for the National Technical Honor Society -- one of two students selected from the fire academy.
“He could do pretty much anything but inner structure fire,” his father, Kyle, said. “But right now he’s probably one of the most hands-on juniors that we’ve had because of me being there for a while. And he’s, if he’s not here at home or playing baseball, that’s pretty much where he lives. He pulls overnight shifts. He’s pretty much, he’s living it already.”
Hunter’s passion for firefighting started because of his father. His father was a volunteer for 10 years, but backed off when Hunter became involved in baseball -- his other passion.
“I wanted him to get some leadership skills in his belt before he graduated high school and he said... he would go to volunteer if I would go back,” Kyle said.
Hunter said he went to hang out with the firefi ghters and it seemed fun, so he started volunteering about two years ago.
“And I was like, it’s something I want to do. I like helping people out. It’s the adrenaline rush. I like doing those things. I just kind of fell in love with it. With being up there. It’s like a brotherhood to be around those places,” Hunter said.
His mother, Robyn, said she 100 percent backs Hunter and his choices, and she’s proud of him, but it comes with a dose of fear. While everyone else is running away from danger, firefighters are running toward it -- and she has two loved ones running towards it.
“You know, when they go out on that call, you know, you’re, you’re watching live 360 to make sure they make it back safely,” she said. “But I will say, I mean, we are very proud of this kid. He has, he’s overcome a ton of obstacles and when he sets his mind to something, he gives it a hundred percent.”
It’s that dedication that has helped him rise ranks in the class. Hunter is the class commander at EOC. It’s like being an assistant chief or captain inside the classroom, meaning if students show up late, he takes care of disciplinary action or if they don’t get something, they can go to Hunter for help.
Hunter has the backing of everyone in his family, not just his parents. Robyn said his little sister, Kylyn, was probably more exciting about his acceptance letter to EOC than he was.
“Of course, confetti goes everywhere and you know, it’s his acceptance letter and she just, bless her heart. I mean, she loses it and she’s just, I mean, she’s bouncing off the wall and she doesn’t know whether to say, you know, what she can say. I mean, she’s, I think she was truly more excited than he was,” Robyn said.
Even with his dedication to firefighting, it’s not the only thing Hunter is focused on this year. He’s played baseball since he was about four years old. It’s another activity he shared with his father, the two of them going out in the backyard to hit or play catch. He’s known his teammates at Dale and on his travel ball team since they were all little kids.
Hunter said it’s been an awesome experience playing for Dale. The faculty and parents really support them.
“We have a big breakfast every day at the state tournament. And then we’ll hit and some nights we’ll have like, or there’s a night right before the state tournament, we’ll have a big family night and one of our coaches’ house, all the players and family come over, hang out, play games, eat dinner, talk about how the games are going to go, who we play,” he said.
There is some pressure there -- the Dale baseball team has a reputation for being strong. Hunter said it can be challenging to live up to it and continue winning and making it to state every year. It can also be tough to balance everything -- firefighting, baseball and school. Hunter said there are weeks during baseball season when he doesn’t go to the station very much. He’s also studying for tests at fire school and regular school, but still trying to put baseball first on game days.
It doesn’t help that his biggest obstacles are injuries. Hunter said he broke his wrist going into freshman year, so did a lot of time watching the game and sitting back. His sophomore year, he broke his finger playing baseball and had to sit out a month for that. Then, going into his junior year, he tore his meniscus and had to have surgery, sitting out another month.
“That’s definitely my biggest obstacle, is injuries,” he said.
But he’s certainly not letting it stop him. Hunter is most looking forward to winning state in baseball this final year.
Beyond that, Hunter is already looking forward to applying at fire departments in the hopes he gets on at one. He said he’d like to get on a Shawnee, Stillwater, Norman or Del City. Anywhere kind of local.
This is the latest in the Senior Spotlight series, highlighting senior students from all of the high schools in the Lincoln County News coverage area.