Pampa Harvester Athletes of the Week (October 19 - October 25)
Photos courtesy of Cartershots and Charla Shults
Kamden Snelgrooes, No. 7, is a senior wide receiver and defensive back for the Harvester football team. He will also compete for the Harvester baseball team in the spring.
Snelgrooes is making the most of his high school experience, finding success not only in athletics but also in academics, fine arts, and leadership.
From competing on the football field to taking center stage in the school musical, Snelgrooes has embraced opportunities to get involved and make a difference at Pampa High School.
His dedication and involvement have helped earn him recognition as this week's Athlete of the Week.
While many people may recognize Snelgrooes for his athletic abilities, he said there is much more to his high school experience than sports.
“Away from athletics, I'm involved in many other extracurriculars, like choir, where I am the lead in this year's musical of Mary Poppins. I play Bert,” Snelgrooes said. “I am also in tons of leadership roles as well, like student body chaplain, choir vice president, and ASTRA treasurer.”
Balancing those responsibilities with athletics has been an important part of his high school journey, and Snelgrooes said being recognized as Athlete of the Week is a meaningful accomplishment.
“It truly means a lot to me to be Athlete of the Week because it shows how far I have come over the years,” Snelgrooes said. “It shows how dedicated and passionate I am about athletics.”
As the season continues, Snelgrooes is focused on making the most of the time he has remaining with his teammates. Rather than concentrating solely on wins and losses, he hopes to appreciate the experiences and friendships that have made his athletic career special.
“For the rest of this season, I hope to enjoy these last few games, practices and team dinners with my friends and teammates,” Snelgrooes said.
In addition to football, Snelgrooes also plays baseball. Looking ahead to the spring, he hopes to contribute to the Harvesters on the varsity diamond.
“I also play baseball, where I hope to play second base for the varsity for the 2027 school year,” Snelgrooes said.
Snelgrooes is also beginning to look toward life after high school. He plans to continue his education at Texas Tech University, where he intends to pursue a degree in general business.
“I plan on attending Texas Tech, where I will study general business,” Snelgrooes said.
In the classroom, Snelgrooes has developed a particular appreciation for mathematics. He enjoys working through problems and finding solutions, an interest he credits in part to one of his teachers.
“My favorite subject in school would have to be math because I love to break down problems and solve them piece by piece,” Snelgrooes said.
He also took the opportunity to recognize a teacher who has made a lasting impact on his education.
“I would like to give a huge shoutout to Mrs. Armenta for my love of math,” Snelgrooes said. “Truly one of the best teachers I have ever had. I am super grateful for her.”
Whether competing in athletics, performing on stage, serving in a leadership position, or working in the classroom, Snelgrooes continues to make the most of his opportunities at Pampa High School.
As he looks toward graduation and his future at Texas Tech, Snelgrooes hopes to make the most of his remaining time as a Harvester while cherishing the friendships and experiences that have shaped his high school journey.
Head football coach Floyd White praised Snelgrooes for his selfless attitude, strong work ethic, leadership, and willingness to do whatever is needed to help the Harvesters succeed both on and off the field.
“Kamden is the personification of the statement ‘do it for the team,’” White said. “Since we got here at the end of his freshman year, he has always been about the team. He is always here on time, working hard, and doing anything that we ask him to do in order to help the team. All of his hard work shows in everything that he does.
“During the Dalhart game, he went out and volunteered to play a position, because of an injury, where he hasn't had much practice time, in order to help us finish the game. He has a great sense of humor that has us all laughing all the time.
“Not only does he work hard on the sporting side of things, but he is also great on the academic side of school. He is one of the top students in his class and is a great leader in the student culture of Pampa High School.
“Kamden is what a leader in the making looks like. He is a model for students to follow at Pampa High School. We are blessed that he is with our program.”
Pampa head baseball coach Austin Samulowitz praised Snelgrooes for his leadership, baseball knowledge, and the example he sets for his teammates as he prepares for his senior season.
“Kamden will be a senior baseball player for the program this year. We are excited to have him as one of the leaders of the baseball team. Kamden brings a lot of baseball knowledge to the team. He is like having an extra coach in the dugout and on the field. Kam has grown up in the program, and he is a great example of what we’re trying to build with character and competitiveness. We are excited for Kam’s senior year and for baseball season to get started!” Samulowitz said.
Seniors Yaritza Saenz, Olivia Owens, Naya Gallegos, Haili-Mae Newton, and Elli Peet played their final volleyball game together Saturday night in Canyon as the Lady Harvesters' season came to a close.
Each week, our Athlete of the Week feature shines a spotlight on an individual who has made an impact on Pampa athletics. This week, however, we are doing something a little different. Instead of recognizing just one athlete, we are honoring five young ladies who have given their time, dedication, and heart to the Lady Harvester volleyball program.
Throughout their time together, these five seniors have shared countless practices, games, victories, challenges, and memories. While their playing careers at Pampa High School are coming to a close, the friendships and bonds they have built will last long beyond their final match.
For this special edition of Athlete of the Week, we decided to let the seniors do the talking. Rather than focusing on individual accomplishments, we asked each player to share what makes her teammates special, what she admires most about them, and what their friendships have meant to her. Each senior also had the opportunity to share one final message with the group.
Sometimes, the best way to recognize an athlete isn't by looking at the statistics or accomplishments, but by hearing what the people who have stood beside them have to say. These five Lady Harvesters have been teammates, competitors, supporters, and, most importantly, friends. Now, it's their turn to celebrate each other.
No. 4 Yaritza Saenz on Her Fellow Seniors
On Haili-Mae Newton:
“Caring, I chose this word because Haili has always been someone who would be there for you no matter what.”
On Naya Gallegos:
“Funny, I chose this word because she is always making people laugh and just loves being herself.”
On Elli Peet:
“Loving, Elli is always making sure you’re okay, and she’s always putting others first.”
On Olivia Owens:
“Outgoing, Liv is always finding a way to lighten the mood, always trying to make people laugh, and cares for everyone.”
Yaritza's Final Message to Her Fellow Seniors:
“To all the seniors, I wanted to say how proud I am of every single one of y'all and how grateful I am to have been able to grow up playing with y'all and getting through the tough times together. I can’t wait to see what we all accomplish in the future, and lastly I love all of you so much!”
No. 5 Olivia Owens on Her Fellow Seniors
On Haili-Mae Newton:
“Haili is a leader because she always has a positive attitude and she encourages us to always be the best version of ourselves.”
On Naya Gallegos:
“Naya is very encouraging. She lifts up others while also having great confidence within herself.”
On Yaritza Saenz:
“Yaritza is courageous. Despite any circumstance or situation, she always shows no weakness and never backs down from any task.”
On Elli Peet:
“Elli is very enthusiastic. She always brings and makes her own energy for everyone to build off of.”
Olivia's Final Message to Her Fellow Seniors:
“I am very blessed to have gotten to be with y'all through high school. I've loved every second, no matter if we were winning or losing. I wish y'all nothing but the best, and I hope y'all meet every goal in your life and accomplish amazing things. I love each of y'all very dearly. Love Olivia :)”
No. 6 Naya Gallegos on Her Fellow Seniors
On Haili-Mae Newton:
“Haili is very humble. She is so good at everything she does but continues to show kindness and respect to everyone.”
On Yaritza Saenz:
“I would describe Yaritza as very ambitious. No matter what the outcome may be, she is always pushing and putting in all of her effort.”
On Olivia Owens:
“Olivia is wise. She has a deep understanding of what life is and uses her experiences to build her as a person.”
On Elli Peet:
“Elli is very vibrant. She always stands out and isn’t scared to be herself.”
Naya's Final Message to Her Fellow Seniors:
“To the other seniors, who are also my best friends. Thank you for sticking by my side through everything. I love each and every one of y’all so, so much. I hope you guys go far in life; I know you will. I will forever cherish every moment we’ve had together. You guys are amazing and will always have a special place in my heart. I love you forever. -Goose”
No. 12 Haili-Mae Newton on Her Fellow Seniors
On Elli Peet:
“One word that describes Elli would be kindhearted. She is always putting others first before herself. Elli is always willing to help others and makes people feel important and involved in the best way she can.”
On Naya Gallegos:
“One word that describes Naya is goofy. You can always find Naya making people laugh, acting silly, and just bringing energy wherever she is.”
On Olivia Owens:
“One word I would use to describe Liv is hardworking. Liv is very competitive and always working hard. She is always making sure she does all her reps and goes above 100% during everything.”
On Yaritza Saenz:
“One word I’d use to describe Yaritza is rare, and that’s because she has been there for me since elementary school. Not everyone gets to say they’ve grown up with someone who knows them so well and has been there for every stage of your life and still chooses to be by your side. I’m so lucky I got to go through my school years with someone as rare as her!”
Haili-Mae's Final Message to Her Fellow Seniors:
“Senior season went by way too fast, but I’m so glad I got to spend it playing with y’all. I’m so thankful volleyball brought all of us together. I’ll miss playing with y’all, but I’m even more thankful for the memories and friendships we’ve made! Thank y’all for being such great teammates. Y’all made this season so much better, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories we made throughout these four years. Y’all are going to do amazing things, and I can’t wait to see where life takes y’all!”
No. 13 Elli Peet on Her Fellow Seniors
On Haili-Mae Newton:
“(Genuine) Haili is genuine because, at first, you might think she is reserved, but once you get to know her and she opens up, you will never find a more considerate, sincere, or authentic person. She will always listen to every word you say, no matter how ridiculous the subject, and respond with the most sensible answer. If you find yourself a Haili, never let her go.”
On Naya Gallegos:
“(Solid) I chose the word solid for Naya because she will stay strong through every situation and will be a constant outlet for her teammates and friends through every issue they are going through. Her support is always and you could call her any hour of the day and she would be there for you in an instant. That is why she is going to be a great mother one day.”
On Olivia Owens:
“(Original) I chose the word original for Olivia because you will never find another soul like her; the energy and laughter she brings into a room are unstoppable. Freshman year, when she lived in Idaho for a year, the world was out of balance. Thank goodness she is back and is brightening up everyone’s day.”
On Yaritza Saenz:
“(Passionate) I chose the word passionate because she puts her whole heart into every task she does. Whether it is a silly joke or a group activity, she does it with so much drive and considers every single detail carefully.”
Elli's Final Message to Her Fellow Seniors:
“To my fellow seniors, thank you for being the best teammates I could have ever asked for and for the friendships that have grown from this bond. I know that this journey is not the last because we still have each other. Even though I have been playing this sport with some of you since second grade and others since seventh grade, this is not the end of what we have yet to accomplish together. I wish each and every one of you success in whatever path life takes you. Thanks again, and I love y’all so much!”
Coach Samulowitz on the Seniors
Although this was the seniors' first year playing under head coach Kaylee Samulowitz, she wanted them to make the most of their final season and enjoy every moment along the way.
When reflecting on her time with this group, Samulowitz said it was difficult to choose just one favorite memory. Instead, she hopes the relationships built and conversations shared will leave a lasting impact beyond the volleyball court.
“There are so many moments from this year that I will never forget,” Samulowitz said. “We've had a bunch of conversations about deep topics that have nothing to do with volleyball and more to do with life. My hope is that I have made some kind of positive impact on each of these girls and given them some inspiration that they can take with them in their next chapters.”
Congratulations to Yaritza, Olivia, Naya, Haili-Mae, Elli, and Kamden for representing the Harvesters with pride, dedication, and leadership.
