Landen Deuley runs his first sub-50-second 400-meter race as part of the track team at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Landen Deuley is living in the moment as he starts looking towards the future.

The 17-year-old senior at Parkersburg High School has been involved with the PHS Soccer and Track teams, singing in choir and interacting with younger students as part of the T Club for years.

With each experience, he is building a foundation that will help guide him through life.

Many of his experiences including soccer, track and choir all started at home with his family, parents Nate and Bree Deuley, older brother Brayden and younger sister Adilynn.

“I have played soccer since I was 3 or 4 years old,” he said. “It was a sport my family has been involved with for years and I have stuck with it.”

Landen Deuley, a senior at Parkersburg High School, on the soccer field after scoring a goal in his position as striker. (Photo Provided)

Deuley, who plays the position of striker, has become known locally for his skill on the soccer field, recently scoring four goals against Parkersburg South.

“I am just a competitive person,” he said. “I just love the competitiveness of the game.

“I really enjoy hanging out and being part of a team. I like being out on the field with everyone after school during practice.”

As part of the PHS track team, he runs the 400 meter, the Four by Four and the Four by Two races. He has been on the PHS track team for four years.

Like all the other things he is involved in, it started at a young age and it is something his family has been involved in. Again, he likes being part of a team and working with others

Landen Deuley, a senior at Parkersburg High School, in a suit for prom while at the Blennerhassett Hotel in the spring. Deuley is considering becoming an x-ray technician after high school. (Photo Provided)

“I have just stuck with it ever since,” he said.

He has been involved in choir for a number of years. He sings in the bass section and has become a part of the PHS Chamber Choir over the past two years.

“My mom was a part of choir when she was in high school,” Deuley said. “I have a brother who is two years older than me and I have been following what he has been doing.

“I have kept the family tradition going. My younger sister is a part of choir as well. It has been something that has been a part of our family for years.”

He is open to singing all types of music, but he likes upbeat songs with a lot of harmonies between the different sections.

Landen Deuley, a senior at Parkersburg High School, during a family vacation at Kountry Cabin Resort in Racine, Ohio. (Photo Provided)

“I enjoy the songs with a bunch of interactions, clapping and moving around,” Deuley said. “Those are the songs I enjoy.”

During the holiday season, he said he likes singing “Carol of the Bells” with how the different parts interact and harmonize together.

“I like to sing,” Deuley said. “It is something I just like to do. It can put you in a happy place.

“Once we get the song organized and finished, I think it is really pretty to listen to. I think it is cool to be a part of it.”

In addition to sports and choir, Deuley is also involved in T Club where he is involved in going to some of the elementary schools and interacting with the students there, reading to them and playing with them in gym class.

Landen Deuley, a senior at Parkersburg High School, is in the Chamber Choir at PHS. He has liked singing since he was a young age. (Photo Provided)

“It is getting involved in different aspects of the community,” he said. “I think it is pretty cool. I know when I was that age, I thought it was always so cool to see these high school kids coming in talking to me and interacting with me. I would go home and tell my mom about it.

“I’m that kid now. I’m the one interacting with them now.”

Deuley is planning to go to college after high school and is still undecided on what college he wants to go to.

“I am still deciding if I want to pursue one of these sports into college,” he said of seeing if he can get a scholarship, adding the school and what can be offered will also be a factor if he does a sport or not.

He is considering going into the medical field to become an x-ray technician which has been on his mind to pursue over the past year or so.

Landen Deuley, a senior at Parkersburg High School, raises his arms in victory after winning a state championship in the 400-meter race as part of the PHS Track team. (Photo Provided)

“My junior year, I took a human anatomy class,” he said. “It really grabbed my attention. I was really focused in that class and it just interested me.”

His experiences have helped shape him from learning teamwork to being able to enjoy being able to sing and being able to interact with younger kids at their level, all skills he will need in the future whether working in a hospital or medical office to put a kid at ease before doing an x-ray.

“It is nice to have that experience,” he said. “Being a part of a team helped me learn how to work with other people.”

Deuley is very aware that this is his last year of high school and he wants to be able to enjoy as much of it as he can.

“Being my senior year, I have learned to just enjoy the moment,” he said. “This will be the last of a lot of things for me in this phase of my life.”

He is mindful that this could be the last time he does certain activities with certain people.

“I am just trying to enjoy the moment,” he said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.

***

Know Someone Who Could Be Teen of the Week?

You can suggest a Mid-Ohio Valley youth that goes above and beyond to be featured as the Teen of the Week by submitting their name and contact information for a parent, guardian or school official to editorial@newsandsentinel.com.