Caleb Barksdale hustles to gain yards in flag football. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON — Sports play a major component in Caleb Barksdale’s life.

Caleb, a Heritage Elementary School second-grader, has played in Madison Baseball Association. “He loves baseball because it’s a fun sport,” his mother Soraya Barksdale said.

He wrestles for James Clemens Youth Wrestling Association. Caleb played Upward Flag Football with First Baptist Church of Madison and recently began contact football with Madison Athletic Association. He enjoys wrestling and football because of the contact.

Involved in Boy Scouts, Caleb has earned his Bear and Wolf badges.

Soraya is a stay-at-home mom. Caleb’s father Stephen Barksdale works as a controls technician specialist for Global BAS Inc.

Caleb’s siblings are Zoe, 6, a Heritage first-grader; three-year-old Cody, who attends Trinity Baptist Preschool; and one-year-old Colton.

The Barksdales moved to Madison in June 2015 from the Washington D.C. area. “We wanted to move away from big-city life and settle somewhere with good schools and a much more relaxed environment,” Soraya said.

Q&A

Q: At what restaurants do you enjoy eating?
A: La Placita and IHOP.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Pizza but he also loves “his Grandaddy’s salmon patties.”

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?
A: Redskins, Nationals, Braves and Auburn University (War Eagle!).

Q: What’s your favorite sports memory?
A: In Virginia last year, “I had a great wrestling season,” Caleb said. “I had a kid that I wrestled four times. He was really good. The first time he beat me it was 13-0, but I fought hard.”

“I was disappointed and didn’t want to face him again, but every meet I went to he was there. The second time he beat me it was 10-4,” Caleb said. “The third time it was 8-6. At this point, I was mad. I just wanted to beat him.”

“My dad is my coach. He told me to just go out and try my hardest. In my fourth match, I beat him 9-8! Even though I won by a point, it was a sweet victory.”

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: “Playing with siblings and friends, watching movies and playing with my iPad, board games and super heroes. I like spending time with my family.”