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 for week of April 28, 2019
Mention the name Emma Carney to Dana Moyer, and there’s no mistaking the respect the Plymouth Whitemarsh senior commands from her softball coach. “If one girl on my team could run and be president, I would say it would be her,” Moyer said. “She’s immediately likable, she always has a smile on her face. I don’t think you’d meet one person anywhere that has a bad word to say about Emma Carney. That’s the type of person she is.”It’s safe to say Carney has no political aspirations. Instead, she’s chosen a path that is in sharp contrast to the volatile world of politics. The PW senior has her sights set on becoming a nurse.
“I’ve always been interested in studying the body and its functions,” she said. “I knew I wanted to help people when I was older and have any impact that I can on people’s lives so nursing is a great opportunity for that.”
For now, Carney is anchoring the outfield of a Colonials’ softball team that is having itself quite a season. Coming as no surprise, she brings that same nurturing spirit to the softball diamond where she is even sometimes affectionately called ‘mom. She’s an old soul in an 18-year-old’s body,” Moyer said. “She is an obvious team leader, helping her teammates out of tough situations with verbal and emotional encouragement. The truth is, she’s always helpful but in ways difficult to articulate. Because she is so genuine and well respected, people listen to her. They know she always has their best interests at heart. I’ve heard her give words of encouragement to a teammate because of a flubbed play. In that way, she’s a great friend and teammate.She is planning on pursuing a career in the medical field, which is perfect. Believe me, you won’t get better care from a better person. Emma is truly one in a million.”
But don’t be fooled by Carney’s caring nature. The senior captain knows how to have fun.“Emma is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life,” Moyer said. “The things that come out of her mouth are just witty. She just has a great perspective on life. I’ve seen her diffuse a tense or potentially troubling situation with a funny look or a quirky retort.”
Carney will combine her love of softball with her pursuit of a nursing degree when she enrolls at Gwynedd Mercy University this fall.“When I met with the coach, I was really concerned because I know nursing is a very hands-on major,” Carney said. “He told me about all the study opportunities and how I can work with the coach to figure out practice times and study times to balance it all out.”
Carney is about a whole lot more than just softball. A member of PW’s badminton club, she helped plan the school’s Mini-THON, which raised $26,000 to fight pediatric cancer. She is also a strong student.“Emma is simply awesome in every way,” Moyer said. “She’s kind, hardworking, talented, funny and intelligent. “She’s a person who could run for president and get 100 percent of the American vote. She’s just an absolute pleasure. I can’t say enough about that girl.”
To read Carney’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/emma-carney-0084601
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete for week of Apirl 28, 2019
Some student-athletes lead with their words, while others let action do the talking.Luke Atiyeh does both.The Souderton senior, a two-sport athlete on both the soccer and lacrosse fields, has always been the type of leader unafraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty. “I’m a very vocal person,” Atiyeh said. “I have a very loud voice and I talk a lot. Being a leader through communication is one of my strongest assets, so it’s not a difficulty for me to play that role on the soccer and lacrosse fields. I don’t mean to sound overzealous, but I’ve always thought people are meant to be in leadership positions if they have certain qualities. I’m vocal, communicative and lead the best way I can. It’s become a big part of the player and person that I am.” Atiyeh has had strong influencers in his life from the get-go. The youngest of three children, Atiyeh got his ambition to lead others first from his parents, who stressed accountability and a relentless work ethic in all of their children. Atiyeh then had to follow in the footsteps of two overachieving siblings, leaving him with the feeling that he always had something to prove.
It was around junior year that Atiyeh began earning a reputation on both fields of play: his head coaches, Matt Benner (soccer) and Mark Princehorn (lacrosse), deployed Atiyeh with the specific intentions of shutting down the opposing team’s top scorer. “The kid loves physical contact,” Benner said. “There’s a toughness about him that lets the other boys know he has their backs. Luke always strives to be the best in athletics and academics. I had him in my sixth grade Social Studies class, so I’ve known firsthand about his work ethic and selflessness. One of the coaches on our staff was not able to work due to health complications, and Luke organized the boys to go over to his house to do yard work and maintenance on his pool. He loves to serve others, and that leadership shows through his actions.” Princehorn had equally high praise for Atiyeh. “I love that kid because no matter what the score or situation is, whether it’s a practice, scrimmage or a game, he will go out and give all of his heart, body, mind and soul to try to win for you,” Princehorn said. “He’s a kid who will run through (a brick wall) for you; you can’t just replace that. I only coached him for two years, but he’s put in more work in those two than most do in four. I don’t even care that I didn’t coach him all four because I’m just so grateful and lucky, as we are as a program, that he came back to us.”
In the fall, Atiyeh will attend Penn State University, where he will major in Finance and minor in Economics in the school’s world-renowned Smeal College of Business. Additionally, he was accepted into the Sapphire Academic Leadership Program, which is a collection of 50 students who will become leaders at both the college and in the community by planning service-type projects. Atiyeh is in the top 10 in his class at Souderton, has taken close to 10 advanced placement courses and is a National Honor Society member. Service has become a part of his DNA: he is a member of Students Against Violating the Earth and is also a member of Link Crew. On top of all that, Atiyeh helps plan community service outings, as well as blood, coin, food and gift drives for the needy and less fortunate.
To read Atiyeh’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/luke-atiyeh-0084603
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