Senior Jerry Long, a varsity football player, won the September Athlete of the Month title on Oct. 22, 2024.
“Athlete of the Month chooses outstanding athletes, on the field as well as off the field,” Long said. “It definitely represents the amount of hard work and achievement that you’ve shown in your sport, and is also a good representation of the team as a whole.”
Athletes are then voted on by other members of the team and selected based on the results. Oftentimes, there is a good deal of competition as to who’s chosen, as multiple well-performing athletes vie for the same position.
“It means a lot because in the past, especially when I was an underclassman, there was definitely some adversity, and I had to really fight for a position,” Long said. “I’ve finally seen my work pay off. I see it as the fruit of my labor.”
To receive an award designed to reflect consistent hard-work and dedication, Long has consistently demonstrated success through numerous achievements.
“I started playing football my freshman year, and it’s now my fourth year,” Long said. “The most memorable time was the Homecoming game where I got two interceptions and a touchdown, because that was the game my dad went to. I don’t get to see him look that proud often in my life, but in that moment, he was just smiling.”
More than his own individual achievements, Long emphasized the importance of teamwork in overcoming challenges and maintaining success in general.
“The Athlete of the Month is really not just me, it kind of represents all of our senior Wildcats that have been through this with me as well,” Long explained.
In fact, the team’s camaraderie was what got them through many of the challenges that came with the demands of the sport.
“Something unique about my football journey is that our team has had three different coaching changes, so it’s a lot of challenges that we’ve faced as a team together,” Long said.
Long also elaborated on the individual challenges that are associated with playing football. Football is commonly known as a physically demanding sport, but Long reveals how the sport can be mentally challenging as well, especially since it requires focus and strategic thinking.
“Even though it’s a team sport, there’s a lot of individual factors where every guy needs to do their job, like blocking or making a tackle,” Long said. “When you’re going against a guy that’s faster than you or bigger than you or stronger than you, it takes a lot of mental fortitude to play through an entire game of over 100 plays, you know, just going against that person and trying to prove that you’re better.”
Despite all these challenges, Long commented on how it only made his friendship with his teammates stronger.
“My favorite moments are when we get to bond at Chick-Fil-A after games, and team bonding in general,” Long said.
Long further highlights on how the support from his teammates allowed him to strengthen his performance on the field through constructive feedback.
“We hold each other accountable for even the small things, and when we make any mistakes.”
