Crenshaw freshman Aryn Paul competes on the flag football team and plans on competing in track and field.
For flag football, she is a running back and a cornerback. Paul helped the Cougars to a 17-5-1 overall record; leading the Coliseum League with a 15-0-1 record. Being on the team gives her exposure to the student body and other opportunities.
“We have a flag football page and we get to post it,” Paul said. “Crenshaw gets a lot of sponsorships, we get to be incorporated in that.”
Paul competed in 14 games having eight carries for 33 yards and one rushing touchdown.
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“I feel like we have a high standard to hold,” Paul said. “A good amount of people think good of us.”
Paul ran track during her seventh-grade year but did not compete for an entire season. She focused on the 100m and 200m.
“The 100m you get out, you get out fast,” she said. “[The] 200m, you also get out fast and then you keep your pace.”
The speed, endurance, and agility that she learned in track helped her endure the competitive practices that the Cougars have.
“We don’t play around at practice, we play actual games,” Paul said. “We have to scrimmage at practice …actually pulling flags and making those stops.”
Despite not being a wide receiver, Paul noticed improvements in her catching ability. She also has improved on being supportive to her teammates.
“I don’t play wide receiver, but I practice up, I may have to go in as that one day,” Paul said. “I’ve gotten better with helping out my teammates, encouraging them, giving them good talks when they may feel down.”
As a student-athlete, Paul knows that she must be successful in the classroom and on the field.
“You have to focus on your academics also, not just sports,” Paul said. “I always make sure I get all my classwork if I’m missing classes.”
Competing in flag football taught Paul the importance of having good sportsmanship.
“Even though if we win against another team, we may beat them really bad,” she said. “But we still have to high-five them at the end of the game and still tell them “good game.””
Paul enjoys studying geometry. During her middle school years, Paul competed in Mathletes. She aspires to earn a track scholarship from an HBCU.
