A person whose behavior or success can be emulated by others: A role model. Senior Zac Slaydon is the definition of a role model not only because of his baseball achievements, but also because of his academic success. And his positive attitude about baseball doesn’t stop at the baseball foul line.

Slaydon says his outlook on baseball is just as positive as his outlook on life, and sports have influenced him greatly.

“Baseball has taught me to persevere no matter what happens in life,” Slaydon said. “As well as to look forward to the next play or the next thing in life”

Slaydon’s teammates admire him as he strives to work to his full potential and push his teammates to do the same.

“I look up to him because I’ve known him my whole life,” teammate senior Ryan Way said. “He’s consistently made good decisions, my respect for him has only grown as I’ve played baseball with him through life. I look up to him, he gives me constructive criticism and I definitely listen.”

Slaydon’s maturity on both the field and in school has made an impression on the team.

“He’s a leader and more like a father,” Way said. “We actually call him ‘dad’, that’s his nickname. He’s definitely the most mature one of the bunch and he keeps us all together.”

School is just as important to Slaydon as baseball.

“The only thing that exceeds his academic skills is his baseball ability,” Way said. “Off the field and on the field he’s the same, he’s consistently excellent.”

Coach says his athletes academic success is one to be emulated. “School wise he’s one of the best student-athletes we have,” Coach David Powers said. “He always talks about his academics and exudes how important academics are to him”

Powers’ pride Slaydon is immense.

“He has three years of varsity experience,” Powers said “He knows what it’s all about. He gives good guidance to all the guys we have out here.”

Both Powers and Way thinkSlaydon is a “class act”.

Slaydon says his baseball future remains a mystery. He will be attending Texas A&M in the fall for engineering, and hopes to continue to use the skills of leadership that he’s learned on the field.

Slaydon said sports help him adjust to the twists and turns of life. Slaydon said when times are hard, he always hits the fastballs. For Slaydon baseball is more than a sport. It defines who he is as a person.