Iola golfer Xander Sellman told VYPE in a recent interview “My favorite part about being a part of the Iola Mustangs Golf Team is the team camaraderie and Spirit that we show. The biggest enemy on the golf course is your self-confidence and you don’t want your team putting you down. So, we keep it light we know we don’t have to stress to impress”.
When asked about moments that stick out to him he shared that he has several from all of the sports he has played. Saying “The first one that I want to mention is being able to share the football field with my brother as a freshman. Because to me nothing is more important than family and the memories that you share with them. The Second one that I would like to share, is being a Sophomore and qualifying for state. Where it would take me to my third athletic memory. On my first hole at State which was held at Sand Creek Station. Which would be hole 10 a par 5 I took an 11. Laughing the whole time because if you don’t smile in your bad moments you will never recover. With taking the 11 I still finished the back nine at 6 over. The fourth memorable moment in my athletic career is being a junior and placing third at the league tournament leading my team to a league title. During the league tournament, we experienced heavy rain, A lightning strike delay, and A soggy wet course”.
Sellman expressed that his athletic pursuits have “taught me to keep my composure and preserve through the toughest times the darkest days it has helped me keep my head on straight and keep my eye on the prize and not look at what has pushed me down but what I have accomplished”.
He also took a moment to say “I would like to thank The Shriners Hospital. If it wasn’t for them helping me with my leg surgery sports would have never been possible. A little bit about this I was born with short Achilles tendons and I walked on my tippy toes. I had to get them lengthen so they cut slits into my Achilles tendons to extend which put me in the hospital for 6 months”.
“I would like to thank My mom and dad for getting me to every sports event and rodeo that I wanted to go to. I want to thank my brother for not only being the best brother I could ask for and standing up for me but also being my best friend when I needed him. I would like to thank my grandma Debbie for everything that she does for me and my family thank you for all the cookies you have made and all the sporting events you have gone too” said Sellman.
