story by Laramie Dearing
Hadley White, a name you may be hearing for the first time, however it certainly won’t be the last. Hadley is 15 years old from the west Texas town of Westbrook in Mitchell County. Hadley is the son of Steve and Jackie White and has two sisters, Schelli and Cheyanne. A versatile young man, Hadley undoubtedly multitasks like a mad hatter and is involved in multiple activities.
Hadley attends Westbrook High School, a 1-A school, where he is a current sophomore in a class of 15 students. Hadley is an A/B student and received an induction into the National Honor Society. Last year, he was given the Presidential Award for the highest grades in his class. In addition to Hadley’s stellar academic performance, he is also active in Westbrook’s athletics. He plays basketball, baseball, and football. “I enjoy sports. I meet so many new family and friends through it. We have really good teams and I think it would be great to make it to state in football this year.” Hadley stands firm that being involved in numerous things helps shape your future.
When his helmet isn’t being worn, his cowboy hat easily takes it place. Hadley competes in tie-down, team roping, and steer wrestling. “Out of all the events I compete in, steer wrestling is my favorite. I love the adrenaline rush I get when I do my job. Everyone in steer wrestling is like a family. Even though we compete against each other we still support one another. It’s the one event that I am in where you could bump your friend out of the money and they would be just as happy for your run as you.” In the team roping event, Hadley really likes both sides and often goes back and forth. “Rodeo and sports go hand and hand for me. I love both very much or the same reasons. I have met my closest friends and family through both of them. But rodeoing and traveling like we do gives me a ton of good opportunities.” His horses that allow him to meet new friends and opportunities are: Mini Pearl, Eeyore, and Ceila. Hadley is active in the American Junior Rodeo Association and the Texas High School Rodeo Association.
“I like to set goals and this next year I would like to win All-Around titles at both the American Junior Rodeo Association and my Region II for Texas High School Rodeo Association.” Hadley recently won the 13-15 American Junior Rodeo Association Boys Optional Breakaway and Ribbon Roping and 13-15 American Junior Rodeo Association Team Roping Reserve Champion Heeler.
“My days are pretty busy, just like any athlete. I get up at five in the morning and hustle to school for morning lifts, after that I get ready for school, some of my family works at my school so I get to see them often. After school I go straight to practice for either football, basketball, or baseball. From practice I go home to practice, then I take care of my horses, eat dinner, and get rest to do it all over again.” Time is precious to Hadley and he finds it crucial to prepare for the future. “I hope all my hard work now will later gain me scholarships. After I graduate, I hope to attend Texas A&M in College Station to gain a degree in engineering. I plan to become an engineer.”
One of Hadley’s favorite quotes is “slow down, be fast”. Hadley is very faithful and leans on his favorite bible verses. John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
