A well-rounded young man

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This article was published 22/05/2024 (598 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Payne Wood is a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at St. Paul’s High School who is enjoying his scholastic experience.

“My school year has been going great so far,” he told me. “Right now, I am in the process of running for student council president and I have found that our student body and teachers have been so supportive, and the atmosphere has been energizing.

“My favourite class is biology. I love this class because it is very hands-on, and we had the opportunity to dissect a pig.”

Payne also loves sports — just about all sports.

“Over the years I have played… soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, track and field, and new to me this year is ultimate. However, the two sports that I have spent most of my time on are golf and hockey,” he said.

“I would say that golf is my passion, but hockey is a close second. Golf is a very independent game that takes a lot of mental effort and hockey is a team sport that pushes me to be the best I can be for my teammates.

“I love coming to the course every day to practise and see improvements in my game. Since golf is an independent sport for the most part, I have to dedicate time to self-improvement, and the more I’m committed and the more time I spend on my game and on myself, the better I can become.”

Payne lives in Whyte Ridge with his dad Steve, mom Michelyn and sister Elle.

“It’s a great community,” he says of his neighbourhood. “I have a lot of friends who I have grown up with even though we haven’t gone to the same school for most years.”

Payne has both a great goal and a great perspective on the sports he loves most.

“I don’t have a long-term goal for hockey, but I do enjoy playing hockey so I can see myself playing as an adult,” he said. “For golf, my dream is to play college golf and make it to the PGA Tour to play on the biggest stage in golf.”

Payne believes that playing multiple sports like golf and hockey helps him to be better at both:

“Yes, I feel that playing both sports makes me a better athlete all around. Not only does it help me physically, but it helps me appreciate the importance of different skills and mental focus.”