Gloucester’s Corey Skay: Powering through the pressure, one kick at a time
GLOUCESTER, Va. — Gloucester High School Junior, Corey Skay, is the kicker for the Gloucester Dukes Varsity Football team and has his sights set on many more goals, both literally and figuratively.
Even after 11 years on the field, Corey, who also wrestles and plays soccer, is always striving for success. He started early on with the Gloucester Knights and the Outlaws, and now as a Duke he is focusing on looking ahead to his next opportunities. Corey shares, “My goal for the future is to make it to a collegiate level and a professional career in kicking.”
Corey has a deep love for his sport, especially the impact of being a team player has made on him. “What I love about my sport is being able to change the outcome for my team and helping my team succeed. I try to remember a piece of advice I was given when I am in each game. When you’re out on that field, it’s just you and your brothers, do your best for them and nobody else,” he says.
As a team player, Corey has prioritized learning from mistakes so that he can improve the outcome for the team. Corey says, “Being part of a team has taught me that mistakes happen but the best thing for you to do is improve and get better off of those mistakes. Once I missed a field goal in a game and then the next practice I retook that field goal ten times, practicing and fixing my mistake. The next game I got the same opportunity and I made it, which helped my team win that game.”
Obstacles are a natural part of being an athlete, and so often those obstacles are mental rather than physical. “The greatest challenge I face in my position is the pressure of performing the kick and not being on the best part of your game can ruin that one kick. I deal with the pressure by just clearing my mind, taking a deep breath and trying to think of a song. A college coach at a camp that I went to told me, “Don’t think, just go through the motions and let your body do the rest.” and ever since I’ve just been trying to clear my mind the best I can before a kick,” Corey explains.
Sometimes a little sugar helps build the energy needed for Corey to stay focused and engaged in the game. He says, “My pregame ritual includes lots of candy. I eat around one full bag of candy before every game.”
Giving Corey every opportunity to grow and succeed as an athlete over the years has not been easy, and it has been a full family effort. His parents, Sara and Shawn, say, “It has taken a village to help Corey achieve his goals. Grandparents running him to practices and games, friends that feed him and take him to practice, aunts and uncles showing up and cheering him on when we couldn’t and his brothers practicing with him. Corey is so lucky to be loved by so many.”
There’s a strong sense of appreciation from this talented young man. Corey understands the efforts of his supporters, and offers a special thanks to two of them especially, saying, “Thank you to my amazing mother and father.”
Parental Praises
“Corey is such a hardworking individual. As a multi sport student athlete he has learned to balance his course load while going to multiple practices a night almost year round. In the fall, he goes from school to football practice then soccer practice all while maintaining honor roll. He just loves to compete and will do whatever it takes so he can. We are so proud of Corey and the goals he has set for himself. He really can achieve anything he puts his mind to.” – Corey’s parents, Sara and Shawn
Coach’s Comments
“Corey is one of the best athletes at Gloucester High School. Coming in last year, I was delighted to find out we had a kicker. Corey worked hard and became a second team All-State kicker as a sophomore. He also was All-State during soccer season. He works hard preparing for the sports he plays, but also works extremely hard in the classroom. He’s a great kid and a joy to be around.” – Head Varsity Football Coach, Zachary Crouch
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