Center Point’s Brianna Payn races with the best

At a young age, Brianna Payn of Center Point started watching her father, Brian, race.

She picked up a few pointers and now Brianna, a fifth generation boat racer, is the star of the Payn family, aka Pro Payn Racing Team.

'She races just like her daddy,” said Laura Payn, Brianna's mother.

Those pointers and sharing her dad's fierce competitive nature seem to be paying off in a big way.

Brianna, a 15-year-old sophomore at Center Point-Urbana, started competing in 2013 in the US Title Series. In her first year of competition, at the age of 12, she won nationals and was High Point Champion in the K-Pro National series. This past season, she repeated that feat.

Brianna's love of competition motivated her to move up in to the adult class, in which the difficulty level increased and so did the speed of competition. In her first year in the adult class, which ranges in speeds from 55 to 75 miles per hour, Brianna finished second at nationals. A mere three points separated her and the leader at the end of the season.

To get to where she is now has not been an easy road and requires a lot of hard work and dedication from not only Brianna, but the whole Payn family.

When the family is on the road, grandfather Jerry Payn guides the family caravan from state to state for various competitions in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Florida.

'You really get to know your children and grandchildren when you are stuck in a motor home with them for miles and days at a time,” said Connie Payn, Brianna's grandmother. 'I am a very fortunate grandma to have this in my life.”

There also is a bond between racers. Each member of the Payn family has made lifetime bonds with many people due to the camaraderie and respect for one another. Brianna was especially forthcoming about her best friend, Mackenzie, who lives Orlando, Fla. She is very proud the two have a 340-day Snapchat streak.

The Payn family also made it clear they couldn't be successful or make these treks without sponsorship and many friends who lend a hand.

Brianna describes herself as 'loyal,” 'adventurous” and a 'risk taker” and even donates to charities, including The Race of Kids Foundation, where she competes.

Although Brianna is proud of her previous accomplishments, she is focused on the future and bettering herself as a person and an athlete.