By Greg Jaklewicz
Photos by WylieSports.com
Three students, three uniforms, one Bulldog family
You: “Alexa, name three Wylie High School students who support the Bulldogs in different ways.”
Voice service: “The Huffington siblings, Barrett, Alexa and Creed.”
You: “Thank you, Alexa.”
Voice service: “You’re welcome. And I like that girl’s name.”
Three Siblings, Three Paths
On the football field this fall are three Huffingtons—senior Barrett and sophomores Alexa and Creed. They won’t be doing their thing together but, well, together they make their mark.
Barrett is the starting center for the Bulldogs football team.
Alexa is a member of the Belles dance team.
Creed is otherwise known as Spike, the school mascot.
Each has his or her uniform, though most would agree that it’s Alexa who looks the best. She is decked out in purple and gold, pretty as she goes.
Barrett doesn’t care what he looks like. Grass stains, sweat and maybe a little blood add to his appearance.
And Creed is an oversized gray dog.
He is following in the paw prints of older brother Logan, who was the mascot before heading off to Angelo State. Logran currently is working on his master’s degree after whipping through his undergraduate studies in two years.
Each current student has a unique role that is suited for him or her.
A Family in on Wylie
“I think it’s cool,” said Barrett, who moved from guard to center for his final football season at WHS. “Our family is in on Wylie, so it’s a great thing that we’re doing.
“My parents always brag to other people that when we go to football games, we can watch all their kids at once.”
Creed said they even drive to Amarillo to see the Bulldogs face Palo Duro. That’s a long drive.
The Huffingtons bring to mind the adage about the apple not falling far from the tree.
Mom Dayna and dad Mark met as cheerleaders at Hardin-Simmons Cowboys. They are 2002 graduates.
Creed said they’ve seen the photos of mom and dad from way back when.
And if they see something Wylie is doing now that they did at HSU, they’ll point it out.
“We did that when we were in cheer,” they tell the kids.
Barrett said the key to being a close family is communication, and not just using technology.
However, everyone is on their own when it comes time to eat.
Creed, Barrett said, is the pickiest eater.
“I don’t care what I eat,” Barrett said, sounding just like a lineman.
Alexa said she is partial to snow cones.
“She likes ketchup, too,” Barrett said. “She eats ketchup with everything.”
Hopefully not on her snow cone.
Alexa and Creed: A Team
Alexa has Down Syndrome. Born at Hendrick Medical Center just ahead of Creed, she also needed immediate surgery for life-threatening aortic coarctation, according to a Children's Miracle Network story published when she was 2.
“Alexa was flown to Fort Worth for delicate heart surgery. After several weeks, she was cleared to come home and join her family,” the story reported. “Today, Alexa is a happy, healthy child in a houseful of brothers.”
Now it’s 2025, and Alexa may be running the house.
This is her fourth year to be a Belle. She was on the squad at West Junior High.
Alexa said she likes being a Belle because she is with her friends and they are a team.
“Yep,” she said.
She likes night games, too.
The coin toss last week was fun, she said. Everyone was watching her. She laughed.
Creed said it’s great that his sister is involved and “can do stuff with all her friends.”
Alexa said it’s work being Belle. There are routines to learn and, of course, a Belle has to look pretty.
“Uh-huh,” she said.
(Alexa Huffington and Mark Huffington Honorary Coin Toss Representing Hendrick)
Creed as Spike
Eldest brother Logan inspired Creed to be the mascot.
“It seemed fun and it was like if Logan can do it, I can do,” Creed said. *“But when I started to do it, it turned more into like it was meant for me.
“You can do football and be sportsy, you can be theatrical. I was kind of theatrical because I was performing and entertaining. I’m not a sportsy kind of guy, so I found this medium. You’re also getting exercise out of it. I like the mix of the two.”*
Creed said he portrays Spike independently. But Logan offered advice from his experience.
“He’s the one who told me, ‘Hey, use props a lot’ and ‘hey, use big motions and never stop moving,’” he said.
But that was more at the start.
“Since then, I’ve been building my own character. When you’re the mascot, you’re unique. People should be able to see that in different mascots,” Creed said.
This is his second year to be the mascot. Creed was Spike during the football season in 2024 when the mascot was playing.
Creed said the twin relationship means he’s especially close to his sister.
“We kinda take care of each other,” he said. “From the outside, it looks like I take care of her but she takes care of me as much as I take care of her.”
Creed doesn’t mind his big brother being his MUCH BIGGER brother.
“He’s always been into working out. He’s 275 pounds. The bigger, the better he says,” Creed said.
Barrett the Big Brother
Barrett goes more than 260 pounds. He may be twice the size of Creed … when Creed is not outfitted as Spike.
With two mascots and a dancer in the family, Barrett is the anomaly.
“I like football. I like the physical aspect of it. My family is not really known for being physical but it like it and the teamwork that comes along with it,” Barrett said.
He always has been a lineman and he said it’s his skill that has kept him among the five guys up front. “Ever since pee-wee I’ve been a lineman. I kept working on my footwork and hand placement.”
He has enjoyed his greater leadership role as center. An offensive play doesn’t begin without a center, so it’s easy to call him the center of attention each play.
Alexa and Creed have a special bond as twins, and Barrett admires that connection.
“They have a good relationship but I have a good relationship with them,” he said. “I’ve been there their whole life.”
Though his mind was on the game last week against Coronado, Barrett saw his sister participate in the coin toss before play started.
“That was really cool,” he said.
Barrett hopes to pursue mechanical engineering studies after high school.
So, he’s as good in the classroom as he is on the football field?
“Of course,” he said, smiling.