SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of May 23, 2011)
Alicia Evans is a rare two-time state champion in the 400-meter. The Quakertown senior captured gold in that event as a junior and duplicated that feat at last weekend’s state tournament, finishing with a time of 55.02. Evans also finished fourth in the 200 to complete a standout high school track career. “There’s a lot of pressure after winning states your junior year,” coach Jason Anderson said. “I’ve been impressed with how she’s been able to keep moving forward.” Evans’ gold medal performance at states came on the heels of capturing gold in the 400 at districts the preceding weekend with a time of 55.18. She won a district silver medal in the 200 and had a third place finish in the 4x100 relay.
A captain of her team, Evans, according to Anderson, is one of the most caring and conscientious athletes he ever coached. In the Panthers’ dual meet against Central Bucks East, one of the Patriot runners pulled up in the 200 with a hamstring injury. Evans was unaware of it until she crossed the finish line and heard the crowd gasp. Immediately, she and her sister ran over to the fallen runner, a gesture that prompted the mother of the runner who went down to write an e-mail to Anderson, commending Evans on her sportsmanship. “It’s been great to have someone that is conscientious and takes sportsmanship pretty seriously as far as congratulating the other girls,” Anderson said. “She has the team aspect as well. Sometimes you get an individual competitor that just wants to worry about themselves. She has her own success, but she’s helped a number of girls go to states in the relay.”
Evans has accepted a track scholarship to Michigan State University, choosing the school from an impressive final list that included Georgetown, Tennessee, Iowa and Kentucky. She plans to major in advertising. In June, Hughes will compete in the 400 at nationals.
To read Evans’ complete profile, click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/female-featured-athlete
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of May 23, 2011)
Miles Williams is described by his coaches as a ‘person of great character.’ The Upper Merion senior was captain of his track team, and it was not uncommon for Williams to go out of his way to thank opposing coaches and meet officials as well as congratulate his opponents. “We had a long season this year,” coach Dave Symonds said. “The easiest thing to do is pack up and get out of town. He takes time to go to the other coaches and the kids from the other teams and thank them for the competition.” The best part about it, according to coach Joy Niemenski, is that it’s from the heart. “You tell kids it’s always nice to wish your competitors luck and congratulate them at the finish,” Niemenski said. “Some kids do it because ‘Okay, my coach told me I had to do it.’ Miles does it, and he’s very genuine. I think people recognize that about him. He’s just a very polite, genuine kid.”
Williams transferred to Upper Merion from Hatboro in December of his junior year. He made immediate friends by joining the track team the following spring. “What really shocked me at Upper Merion was – they took me in as a team very quickly and gave me time to grow,” he said. “It was great.” Although he didn’t qualify for districts, Williams has been a consistent contributor for a young Viking squad, and he provided invaluable leadership. “Miles was the go-to person,” Niemenski said. “If you told him to do something, he did it.”
Track may or may not be part of Williams’ future. He is considering competing in winter track next year when he enrolls at Delaware Valley College where he hopes to major in biology with the goal of one day becoming a zoologist. His passion for animals is evidenced by the fact that he has been a Junior Ambassador at the Philadelphia Zoo for the past three years. He hopes to one day travel to Africa and study his favorite animal – the gorilla. “Then I plan to travel to the Galapagos Islands to study the Galapagos giant tortoise and the marine iguana. Not exactly your ordinary career path, but then again, Williams is hardly your ordinary young man. “He’s irreplaceable to our program,” Symonds said. “I expect we’re going to be a little bit better next year, but it’s not going to be quite the same without Miles.”
To read Williams’ complete profile, click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/male-featured-athlete
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