Norman’s Haynes Hartsock

By Bryce McKinnis

Haynes Hartsock inherited a heart for service from his parents.

Hartsock, a slot receiver and key offensive playmaker for the Norman High School Tigers, participates in Tigerpalooza, an annual, student-led philanthropy organization that raises money for non-profits.

“I also serve at my church on Torch Team,” Hartsock said. “We are a group of high schoolers that serve the community and focus on discipleship.”

Hartsock also enjoys playing golf, spending summer days at the lake and being with family. But the first thing you should know about Hartsock is that he loves Jesus, and his faith guides him in every decision.

“I love getting to serve because it takes the focus off me and puts it on others. It always puts into perspective what is really important,” Hartsock said. “I live in a family of seven. I have two brothers and two sisters, and I learned from my parents and grandparents all of these values you see in me today.”

The second thing you should know about Haynes Hartsock is that he’s a darn good ballplayer. His heart for service exists on the gridiron as he sees leadership as a personal responsibility and seeks opportunities to pour into his teammates.

“I am a hard-working payer and am holding everyone to a higher standard in preparation for this season,” said Hartsock, a senior this year. “I also have done the work to try to help improve our team the best I can as a player.”

His brother, Port Hartsock, who graduated last year and starred for the Tigers, has had a significant impact on Haynes through their years of growing up and playing football together.

“My key motivation was seeing how my older brother led the team, making me want to keep the leadership on the team looking like that,” Hartsock said.

The third thing you must know about Haynes Hartsock is that he’s a Norman Tiger, through-and-through. After finishing 10-2 last year, upsetting eventual state champion Bixby and making a playoff run, he thinks the Tigers have what it takes to be playing this winter.

“Trying to win a ring and trying to lead our team to become the best I can is one of my big motivations,” Hartsock said. “It would mean a lot to me, knowing that I helped lead the team to make a playoff run like that.”

This season, Hartsock has been exhausting all of his effort to achieve that goal.

“I have done some heavy weight training, going to the gym eight times a week before and after school and going to the field to work on my footwork and catching,” Hartsock said.

Leaving a legacy, the same way his older brother did, is important to Hartsock.

“I hope my teammates, classmates, coaches and teachers remember me as a leader and someone that they looked up to as they developed through high school,” Hartsock said. “My goal, like everyone who’s playing, is to go to college to play and work my way to a D1 if I don’t start there.”

f