by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Navajo Prep Academy’s senior Lance Morris will continue his career at Arizona Christian University. The NAIA school is located in Glendale, Arizona.
Lance Morris, 18, is Navajo. His parents are DeAndra Wagner and Olyne Morris. His clans are Tódich’ii’nii nishlí, Tótsohnii báshishchíín, Honágháahnii dahshicheii, Tł’ógi dahshinálí and in English, I am bitter water born for big water. My maternal grandfather is one who walks around clan and my paternal grandfather is hairy ones or weaver zia clan.
Lance Morris played varsity football and basketball at Navajo Preparatory School. His sports accomplishments include being named either First or Second Team All District in football and basketball throughout high school, three-time Navajo Times All Star in football and basketball, two-time District Champions for basketball and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority/Choice Wireless 2020 Sportsmanship Award.
“In my culture, ‘Hozho’ is the Navajo philosophy of life,” said Lance. “It is the beauty way to do things by staying positive and healthy and being focused mentally and physically. These values have defined me as a student-athlete because I know by starting my own adult life I have to think about my future and what my plans are to help me become successful. I stay positive by setting goals that I want to achieve later in my life and I also start by being a positive influence to my younger siblings.”
“I see everything as if it were sacred such as my education and sports, especially my family because I do need to take care of these aspects because they have and will help me throughout my life. I do come from a strong culture and for me being a young Navajo it feels great because my people are strong, and resilient. If it were not for my parent’s teachings or my culture teachings then I wouldn’t be in this position I am in right now. That position is wanting to further my education and receiving opportunities to play at a higher level of basketball,” added Lance.
“My parents have always pushed me at an early age and encouraged me to continue my education and to practice to get better,” said Lance. “They made sacrifices to allow me to play in basketball tournaments and that has influenced me to work even harder because they were putting in the work to make me happy and to start working on my own future.”
“My mother was always there, she has been my strength and I do everything for her and my family. Anything and everything I do is for her because she has given me the teachings and support that I needed. My father has pushed me to work harder and to do everything 110% and to ‘finish it‘ meaning to finish everything that I start. Both of my parents are a positive influence to me. I hold their teachings that they have instilled in me and I am going to carry those with me as I start my own journey,” added Lance.
“My coaches have always been a part of my life and each coach that I have encountered has helped me improve and has taught me a lot about life and the game of basketball. Two coaches that helped me from the start are Coach Audrey Beyal and Coach Rick Destea. Coach Audrey taught me the fundamentals at an early age and taught me the game. Coach Rick was my coach as I got older and he taught me some of the same teachings but he took it to another level and he helped me improve more on what I had learned. Both coaches gave me the exposure that I needed, they knew what it took to compete at a higher level and they trained me and taught me what they knew to grow me into the player I am today.”
“I am always looking to improve my performance,” said Lance. “I lift weights, I do body weight workouts and I try to get in a run or run the hills. Overall, I work on my body daily and I try to do what is best for my body in order for me to perform at the level I want to be at.”
“Mentally, I need to improve on pushing myself so that I can improve my game,” said Lance. “I also need to improve on studying my opponent more, because if I know my opponents weaknesses then I can attack those weaknesses. I need to keep improving everyday and to keep focused on my goal. I need to improve on everything because there is always room for improvement.”
“I use my spirituality to pray for myself to perform at the level I want to perform at,” said Lance. “I use my spirituality as protection and strength. But most importantly I use it because I am thankful and blessed to be able to play basketball and pray to keep improving and for more blessings.”
“I try to make practices like a game,” said Lance. “I push myself and work hard in practice so that when it comes to the game then I am prepared. But I try to visualize my game, my plays and especially my free throws.”
“I am doing well during this situation that has affected the world,” said Lance. “I have been here at home with family and spending each moment I could get with them before I leave to college. I take time out of my day to get my schoolwork finished, and I do home workouts that I do to keep me in shape and to strengthen myself. I try to stay busy and sometimes I do get a run in or some cardio-work inside the house.”
Photo Credit: Marvin and Felicia Photography
