High school athletes are usually ready to face whoever is on their schedule. But, for most, there is usually one team that beating makes the victory a little bit sweeter. Kanaan Guerrero says that his favorite team to beat is also the team that he had a big moment against.
“Mannford is the team I like to beat,” he said. “They are always a good team and very physical. The highlight for me would have to be when I hit a buzzer-beater to beat them in overtime in basketball.”
Guerrero is a senior at Cushing High School. Along with basketball, he also plays golf. Outside of sports, he is a member of the Native American Student Association.
Like most other athletes, Kanaan has worked hard to get to where he is and where he wants to be.
“I have had to take a lot of risks and put in extra hours of work,” he said. “I think my biggest motivation to work hard is my family because I want to make them proud.”
There have also been people in his life who have helped shape Guerrero, as a person, athlete, and student.
“My dad is my biggest role model,” he said. “He has taught me everything I know about basketball. He also pushed me to be the best version of myself. My high school algebra teacher, Mr. Matheson, had the biggest impact on me because in his class, I learned to push myself academically in ways I hadn’t before.”
Guerrero also has a solid group of teammates that he competes alongside. He says that they work hard together and help each other grow.
“The teammate I like to go up against in practice is Koda,” he said. “We have been playing against each other for a very long time, so we always try to make each other better. An underrated guy on our team is probably Roman, because no one sees how big of an impact he is because his stats may not jump off the page.”
When he prepares to compete and puts on the Cushing uniform, Kanaan says that it is something that he is proud to be able to do.
“I feel honored to get to play for Cushing,” he said. “Especially when the team is successful and I am able to lead the team to a victory.”
