OAKLEAF - One phrase that athletes sometimes hear from coaches is "show up," meaning be in the game, absorb the game, and get locked in.

For Oakleaf High basketball graduate Daniel Footman, Class of 2025, the words worked twofold.
"My mom and I made a pact when I was 5 years old and we were going to get to every day of school," said Footman, who was in attendance at the Clay County Schools District after graduation to accept a plaque from School Superintendent David Broskie for perfect attendance from his Kindergarten days to his final day as a senior at Oakleaf High School. "It was going to be a goal to establish a certain work ethic that I could carry throughout life she said. There were a few close calls."
Footman, a standout basketball player for Oakleaf, credited his mom with taking the reins from his high school days, when He got his driver's license.
"Up through elementary school, it was more of the training to be disciplined," said Leslie Olivia Footman. "We set the goal as a 5-year-old, and, of course, making a pact with a 5-year-old is somewhat of a challenge, but the goal was to instill a work ethic. He learned to go when he was tired, not feeling good and learned to just push through it."
Footman had some leeway with his basketball schedule; away games and traveling out of the county forced Footman to keep his time management skills in order.
"I arranged my classes to be a little later during basketball to give me maybe an extra hour of sleep or wake-up time," said Footman, who plans to travel to California for basketball at Columbia College. "It's a full ride."

Oakleaf High basketball coach Jason Price said Footman's dedication to upholding his mother's pact transferred very easily to the basketball court and his teammates.
"A great family backing from his mother and his grandparents, who are very involved and have given him an amazing foundation," said Price. "Mother is a leader in education, grandfather is a doctor, father is a professional player; all driven to success. It was an honor to coach him."
For Broskie, Footman's dedication not only kept him on track for future school, career and family, but also in his athletic endeavor; basketball.
"I've only done this, I think, once in my five years; to give a student perfect attendance for his entire school career," Broskie said. "I want to hire this guy some day because he showed up. Since the pandemic and beyond, there had been a decrease in attendance nationwide. You can't argue with showing up every day since kindergarten."
Broskie met Footan's family during the presentation and applauded their effort.
"This is like the Ironman Endurance award for the school system because I thought he must have great genes," said Broskie. "Whatever they did; vitamins, supplements, good eating, good sleep, it all factors in to getting up every day for 13 years and showing up."