While high school athletics are put on hold during the coronavirus outbreak, our sports staff has created a daily installment called “Senior Spotlight,” which aims to honor some of the local senior athletes whose seasons have been interrupted. Here is our question-and-answer spotlight with Legacy Prep track athlete Maggie Tautfest:
Question: When did you get interested in your sport? Was there somebody who introduced it to you?
Maggie Tautfest: I have always loved running. In fact, my parents have joked that I took off running before I started walking. My love for sports started very young, around 5 or 6. This is when I started competitive gymnastics. It was here that I began to learn the value of hard work and mental toughness. Sadly, I became too tall given that I am now 5-foot-10, so volleyball seemed to be the next best choice. I played school and club ball for several years and after my second knee surgery, I found that running during recovery was therapeutic for me and still is to this day.
Q: What is your favorite part of your sport?
Tautfest: My favorite thing about track and cross country is not the quote on quote runners high or the adrenaline rush that comes from every meet day. My favorite part of the sport is that it has taught me how to be a strong young woman. Not just the physical aspect but the mental aspect.
Q: What is your greatest memory from your childhood with the sport?
Tatufest: Track season in junior high at Knox. God blessed me with an amazing coach (Coach K. Ross) she saw my potential and really pushed me to be the best I could be. On top of that, I took on my love for high jumps and hurdling, winning districts in the 100-meter hurdles seventh grade year.
Q: What is your greatest memory in high school with the sport?
Tautfest: Last season, seven girls won the 3A State title in track and field. This was one of the most rewarding and humbling things in my track career, all our hard work had paid off but above all these six girls are some of the strongest, loving, faith grounded young women I have ever met.
Q: Which people have had the greatest impact on your athletic career?
Tautfest: Coach Michael Morrow placed a huge impact on my life and my sports career. He an incredible coach who invested in me as a person and an athlete he pushed e when I thought I couldn’t run the extra sprint in practice and he was there for me by my side at every high jump event and at the finish line of every race.
Q: After a hard day of practice or after a game, what is your go-to food or drink to replenish and why?
Tautfest: Always taco. You really can’t go wrong. To drink – definitely lots of water and some kind of smoothie/protein shake.
Q: What athlete do you want to meet and why?
Tautfest: I have always wanted to meet Shawn Johnson! I have looked up to her since I was a little gymnast. She was definitely a role model in my life for quite a while as a little girl.
Q: Who’s the most famous athlete you have met? What was the experience was like?
Tautfest: I had the privilege of meeting and training with Olympic high jumper Inika Mcpherson as well as Ray Doakes one of the coolest things I have done. They are both full of so much knowledge and I’m so grateful for the experience.
Q: What are your plans for after college? Will you continue playing your sport? What do you plan on studying?
Tautfest: I will be attending Oklahoma state university in the fall where I will be studying interior design.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?
Tautfest: I would love to have my own interior design firm.