Community Christian’s Carson Rehkop

By Bryce McKinnis

Carson Rehkop inherited his mother’s determination.

“The never-quit attitude she gave to any task at hand, the hard work she put into everything was super inspiring for everyone,” said Rehkop, a sophomore football, basketball and soccer player at Community Christian School in Norman.

Christina Rehkop died unexpectedly last year, preceding a loving husband and father, Brandon, Carson and his sister, Emily. She was often described as their biggest fan.

“She was my biggest supporter and fan. She always said watching me and my sister play was her favorite thing to do,” Rehkop said. “She would be the first one to tell me I didn’t play hard enough.”

Carson is easily one of the most impressive athletes of his age in the area. If you catch a CCS game this fall, you’ll quickly notice a 6-foot linebacker making plays, but where, exactly, will depend on the week. Sometimes catching an interception in the flats, sometimes blowing by tackles to stage a coup in opposing teams’ backfields, he’s a natural to the game.

“I feel like the coaches trust me being able to put me in different positions week-to-week, and I love the opportunities to play in spots that help make plays,” said Rehkop. “I have the most fun, definitely, forcing any kind of turnover. Whether it be an interception or forced fumble, there’s nothing that flips a game more than a turnover.”

But when a tragedy of such magnitude strikes, football is the last thing on your mind. Carson said the outpour of support he received from the CCS family uplifted him during an undeniably devastating phase of his teenage life.

“Something like that is hard to get through, but everyone around me and my family couldn’t have been more caring and loving to my family,” Rehkop said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better community to surround me. I’ve really had to rely on the Lord this past year to give me strength.”

This year, by his monumental faith in God, his father, his sister, his teammates and his community, Rehkop expects to do big things on the gridiron, on the court and on the pitch.

“By hard work, leadership and never-giving-up, I can honor her,” Rehkop said.