A few years back I started working on a segment designed to highlight the efforts of our Student Athletes that were fortunate enough to compete at the College level. Like anything else I do, I came up with a clever name and set out to see if it worked. Trips were taken to watch Alyssa Ervin,Katie Lam, Madison Stockner, Jabin Talley,Elijah Cox, Macie Adkins, Kalee Bunn and Adrienne Harris to name a few.
There is a sign in the gym that reads, ” Once a Cavalier, Always a Cavalier” and its that sign that led me down the path of wanting to gather information about the Cavalier success stories.
There is a fine line between journalists and paparazzi, then again maybe the gap between them is as wide as the Grand Canyon. This year I want to work with any parent or Coach or former Cavalier themselves, any that want to share their story.
Two parents that come to mind are Mama Smoot and Marion Harris. Both of the Smoot twins are going to School over at Southwest Virginia Community College and I will welcome any / all updates on their time there. Marion Harris has Natalie playing LaCrosse again this season at Emory and Henry and I’m already looking forward to hearing about her adventures on the field over there.
But the number of former Cavaliers competing at the next level is growing at a solid clip. Would love to share stories about Karmen Smith, Ashlyn Newman, Landon Puckett, Cody Reece, Brett Berrier as examples but the paparazzi stalk people, dig through peoples trash 🗑 to find things to write ✍ about or take a photo 📷 of. I am just someone who wants to share a positive story about a local Kiddo that is doing good !
Kevin DeHaven, Casey Burcham, Kayla Nester, Adrienne Harris and Brandi Cochran Mitchell are just five quick examples of Carroll County High School graduates 🎓 that played at the next level and then returned home to be leaders of our Youth. All part of the thought process involved with this category.
When the number one objective is to treat everyone equally, it doesn’t matter if its D1, D2, D3, Junior College, NAIA or Community College. Equally is Equally.
In closing, I will touch on a thought about Success stories and how they can help the current program. Nothing but Love for the duo that share Tommy Thompson Field in the Spring and Adrienne Harris & Forrest Johnson are going to be a HUGE part of our future but right now they are faced with challenges that Burcham, Seth Greer and Anthony Barnes don’t face. Soccer ⚽️ is still not mainstream here in Carroll County so having Success stories are simply more valuable to them.
You take someone like young Mr Puckett or Miss Smith or Miss Newman and use them as examples of if you commit yourself to Soccer and Academics in the same manner, it can lead to great things and here are our most recent examples.
Happy to help anyone who wants the help but there just needs to be a meet in the middle kind of a sign from someone who is part of the story.
If you’re not sure, feel free to ask Mama Smoot or Marion Harris and they will tell you that it’s safe to enter the water.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 