Pampa Harvester Athletes of the Week (September 21 - September 27)
Photos courtesy of M2.Phrames and Charla Shults
Perla Hernandez is a junior runner for the Lady Harvester cross-country team. She placed fourth overall at both the Balko and Dalhart meets. She finished 24th and 27th at the Perryton and LCU meets, both of which featured larger fields. She is also a member of the soccer team.
Away from competition, Hernandez has an interest that could eventually turn into a career path.
“Outside of my time in athletics, some people may not know that I love to work with computers and see what makes them work,” Hernandez said.
For Hernandez, being recognized as Athlete of the Week is a reflection of the work and accomplishments that come with competing in athletics.
“The meaning of athlete of the week means to me that you get recognition for the feats you have accomplished or the work you have put into your sports,” Hernandez said.
As she continues through the cross-country season, Hernandez is focused on taking care of herself while also doing her part to help the Lady Harvesters succeed.
“My goals for this season are to take breaks when needed and contribute to my team’s success,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez stays active beyond the cross-country course, competing in another sport for the Lady Harvesters.
“The sports I play include cross-country and soccer,” Hernandez said.
Her interest in computers has also helped Hernandez begin thinking about what she wants to pursue after graduation.
“My plans after high school are to pursue a job in IT (information technology) or anything in cybersecurity,” Hernandez said.
With school, work and athletics keeping her schedule full, Hernandez said art provides an opportunity to slow down and express her creativity.
“My favorite subject is art because outside of school, work and sports can get my schedule busy,” Hernandez said. “So I love to have some time to sit down and create. Having a class meant for that is very ideal.”
Cross-country head coach Otis Chunn said Hernandez’s success this season is a reflection of the hard work, improvement and leadership she continues to display as one of the Lady Harvesters’ top runners.
“As the leading runner for the Lady Harvester HS cross-country Team, Perla has shown incredible progress this season, dropping her mile time from 15 minutes to the mid-13s and making great strides toward regionals. Her recent strong finishes include placing 4th at Balko, 4th at Dalhart, 24th at Perryton, and 27th at the LCU meet,” Chunn said. “Beyond her athletic achievements, Perla exemplifies Harvester pride by supporting all Pampa Green and Gold sports and activities. She is enrolled in dual credit courses and consistently serves as a positive role model for our school, team, and community. Perla is an outstanding representative of our girls' athletic program and is most deserving of this honor.”
Colton Rose is No. 23 and a sophomore running back on the Harvester football team. Rose rushed for 133 yards on 16 carries against Borger, including a 72-yard run. He ran for 160 yards on 23 carries against Canadian, including a 61-yard touchdown run. He ran for 77 yards on 11 carries and scored a 30-yard touchdown against Perryton. He is also a member of the track and wrestling teams for the Harvesters.
Outside of athletics, Rose said spending time with the people closest to him is one of the things he enjoys most.
“I like to go fishing and hang out with my friends. I like to go see my family and friends at the same time. I have three sisters and I love them a lot,” Rose said. “Whenever they come to town, I try to squeeze as much time with them as possible.”
Rose said being recognized for his effort is meaningful because it shows that his coaches have noticed the work he puts in each day.
“It makes me feel very proud and see how the coaches know how hard I work everyday, every game, that I am there and working,” Rose said. “It just makes me feel very proud.”
As the season continues, Rose said his goals extend beyond improving his performance on the field, as he also wants to continue growing as a teammate and leader.
“I feel like some of my goals for the rest of the season is to improve on my attitude, especially during the harder times of a game,” Rose said. “I feel like I also need to be a better example for the freshman.”
Football is not the only sport that keeps Rose busy, as he also competes in track and wrestling and believes both help him become a better football player.
“I also do track and wrestling,” Rose said. “I like both of these sports because it really helps out in the long term with football. Track helps with speed. Wrestling helps with strength and mobility.”
Looking beyond his time at Pampa High School, Rose hopes football will remain part of his future, but he already has a career path in mind regardless of where athletics takes him.
“I plan to go to college after high school, hopefully with a scholarship to play football,” Rose said. “If that doesn’t happen, I will still go to college and my major will be in Education so I can be a teacher and a coach.”
In the classroom, Rose has developed a particular interest in science, with physics standing out as his favorite subject.
“My favorite subject is physics because I understand a lot about physics and I like science in general because I understand a lot of the principles of physics more than most,” Rose said.
Offensive coordinator Eric Langehenning praised Rose for the work ethic and character he has already displayed early in his high school career.
“Colton is a great young man. He has great qualities and exemplifies what it means to be a Harvester,” Langehenning said. “He is a workhorse. He knows one speed, and his work ethic is tremendous.”
While Rose has already made an impact as a sophomore, Langehenning believes there is still plenty of growth ahead.
“Being a sophomore, he is still green and has a lot of room to grow,” Langehenning said. “He is committed and works hard at his craft. He will definitely be one to keep an eye on.”
Congratulations to Perla and Colton for representing the Harvesters with pride, dedication and leadership.
