HC recognizes August student athletes of the month
By Brantley Acke and Dylan Spradlin
Rewarding hard work with high praise and recognition is a strong method to keep up students’ morale. HC makes recognizing their student athletes one of their top priorities over the past few years. One way this is done is that each month, HC chooses a male and a female student athlete who is equally dedicated on and off the field.
“The coaches choose the athletes based on their athletic and academic performance,” HC teacher Joe Ratliff stated. “But also the intangible qualities like leadership skills.”
August’s student athletes were girls’ golf team member, Lauren Fedele, and boys’ soccer team member, Henry MacFarlan.
“It was an honor to be selected,” Fedele said. “It was both a surprise and an honor to me.”
Fedele has been golfing for HC for three years, leading the ladies’ golf team to the 2016 State competition. MacFarlan has been a member of the varsity soccer team for three years, playing center midfield. Along with being involved with the high school, he plays competitive club soccer for Lexington FC.
“I feel ecstatic about being nominated for this award,” MacFarlan said. “It is just a result of a lot of hard work and dedication.”
However, being a tremendous student is just as important as being a tremendous athlete. Student athletes must find a way to balance their school work with their practices and games, something that Fedele and MacFarlan both do well.
“I usually use my weekdays to stay focused,” Fedele explained. “And I like to get my homework done in the evenings, giving me time to practice right after school,” She further explained. “I also like to stay caught up by doing some work for the upcoming week over the weekend.”
Setting goals is important for both academics and athletics. Both recipients of this award are maintaining a strong GPA while playing a busy schedule.
“[Our] goal is to win a state championship,” MacFarlan stated. “We came close last year, but we have to continue to score goals.”
Sports are a great way to get healthy, but the friendships that you make along the way are arguably the most rewarding thing about playing on a team. Bonding with your teammates is also a great sign of leadership and team comradery.
“No matter what I know my teammates are going to be there for me whether I am having a really awesome day or a bad one,” Fedele exclaimed. “Someone’s always there to make me smile or give me a hug when I need one.”
Teachers and coaches also feel that the recipients of this award are really benefiting from the award both on and off the field.
“I think it gives them a confidence boost which sometimes is really needed,” Ratliff said. “It gives them encouragement to continue what they are doing so well.”
Student athletes certainly do not work hard just to be recognized by their teachers and coaches. They work towards bettering their craft because they love what they do. However, it does not hurt the students’ self-esteem when they do get recognized.