Henryetta High School’s Stormi Waquie
Senior distance runner Stormi Waquie has built her Henryetta High School track career on consistency, leadership and a team-first mindset. A four-year senior for the Lady Knights, Waquie competes in the 3200 relay, 1600-meter run and 1600 relay, embracing the grind of distance training and the challenge of championship races.
One of Waquie’s proudest memories came this year in cross country, when Henryetta qualified for the state meet for the first time in quite some time. “My team and I set a goal to qualify for the state meet in cross country this year, something our school had not accomplished in quite some time,” Waquie said. “Not only did we accomplish it, but making it to state together as a team made the experience even more meaningful.”
Running has shaped the way Waquie approaches competition and life. She said the sport has taught her how to handle failure, respect competitors and keep improving without letting ego take over, along with how to set realistic goals and create a plan to reach them. As a senior, she views herself as a leader and “role model for the younger classes coming up,” bringing positive encouragement and pushing her teammates every day in practice.
Waquie takes pride in representing Henryetta, knowing she is competing for something bigger than herself. “When I race, I’m not just running for my own goals, but for my teammates, coaches, and school community,” she said. “Being able to represent my school and contribute to the team’s success is something I take a lot of pride in.”
Grounded by the advice to “trust the process and be patient with your progress” and to “run your own race,” Waquie credits her coaches—especially track and cross-country coaches Coach Gilispie and Coach Osterdock—for helping shape her into the runner and leader she is today.
