Williams, Myers named 2019 Marengo County Student-Athletes

Joshua Williams of Linden High School and Kora Myers, from Sweet Water High School, became the 2019 Marengo County Student Athletes of the Year Tuesday. The event is sponsored by the West Alabama Watchman and the Marengo County Parks and Recreation Board.

Held at the Linden First Baptist Church, the fourth annual banquet honored student-athletes from all of the county’s six high schools. The award honors those students “who are just as good in the classroom as they are on the field,” said master of ceremonies Rob Pearson.

Although only a sophomore, Williams has excelled in football, basketball and track, but his academic records are just as impressive. He has maintained a 4.0 GPS and already has scored a 27 on his ACT.

Williams especially remembers helping his team make it to the state football championship game. He believes taking part in athletics has taught him leadership skills and the importance of being part of a team, “basically knowing it’s not all about you.”

Myers graduates as salutatorian of her class, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and scoring a 30 on her ACT. She plans to attend the University of South Alabama and major in Strategic Communication.

She forever will remember the 2018 softball state championship because it was the first time the school had ever advanced that far and became third in the state. She also remembers it because Myers broke her ankle in game 2. Athletics has taught her “discipline and the importance of relationships,” she said.  “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without great people who pushed me, who motivated me.”

The other male student-athletes from the county recognized at the banquet were John Parker Brock, Marengo Academy; Chance Broussard, SWHS; Robin Harris, A.L. Johnson High; Michael Spencer, Demopolis High, and Roosevelt Thompson, Marengo High.

Female student-athletes include Elly Brown, DHS; A’Kayla McGee, ALJ; Jakaria Miller, LSH; Taylor Moore-Jones, MHS, and Mary Grace Sheffield, Marengo Academy.

Guest speaker Charlie Goodyear gave an impassioned talk to the students encouraging them to find their purpose in life, what he called “the key to success.”

Goodyear, director of Strength and Conditioning for all 19 sports at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, said he doesn’t often “get a chance to talk to a bunch of overachievers,” but he asked them what they will fall back on when things get difficult in life and motivation is not enough.

He encouraged them to “leave a family legacy,” to make a choice to move forward. Love, said Goodyear, is a decision to take action; like is a feeling. Love will see them through adversity, whether in athletics, marriage, parenthood or business. If they only like something, they will give up.

“Our world needs dynamic young leaders…who are not scared,” he said, “who are motivated to do the right things for the right reasons.”