Gabriel Liranzo is known for being a standout cross country runner for Callaway High School, but it's always fun to try something new; like wrestling. It's a sport he began in the 7th grade, one he took a break from, but found his way back to enjoying. "I like that aggressiveness and getting out there and using everything that you've got to accomplish the task." Which is why he's spending his senior season on the wrestling mat, inspired by his coach who also happens to be h...

It's hard to believe Jessica Herndon once tore her ACL. It was an injury that sidelined her as a freshman and forced her to miss her first year on the Northside varsity squad. But at the same time, the injury was a blessing. "It gave me a chance to work on my shot for one, and then just sitting down I got to get my knowledge up of the game and just see where I can come in and help the team out," Herndon said. Which is why she's become an asset to the team. She's a force in ...

For Cameron Udy and a couple of Shaw High School baseball players, it began as an experiment. "We decided to try a new sport to get in better shape," Udy said. A decision that quickly became something a lot more difficult than they thought. "You're trying all new things," he said. "it just stresses out everything." Udy went from throwing a baseball to holding his breath under water, using muscles in his body he normally doesn't. But over the past few w...

Eight months ago, Ebonee McCrory was hurting. "I was playing travel basketball and I had jumped up for a steal and came down wrong." The result was an ACL injury. It's something no athlete ever wants to suffer. But for McCrory, the injury was kind of a blessing in disguise. "It really helped me as a person to get me stronger and see where I was in basketball," said McCrory. The injury forced her to take a hard look at where she was at. "I was determined to...

Kipp Morris had never really pictured himself as an athlete, until a brand new program was introduced. "I just wanted to try something different," he said. And he did. For three years, Morris has been a member of the Calvary Christian archery team. It's been quite the experience for the shy student athlete who's grown a lot since he joined. "He's actually come out of his shell a lot over the last couple of years," said coach Shondra Odom. "I think he would e...

He's a swimmer that uses his 6'4" height to his advantage."When I do my flip turn, most people have to do four to five butterfly kicks when they pass the flags that you see if you look at the pool," said Columbus swimmer Zack Harvey." But for me, I just have to do one and I pass the flags."It's an advantage Harvey is thankful for.  He hasn't been swimming for that long; three years to be exact. But in that short time, the former baseball player turned swim...

He was last named their player of the year; For the Harris County basketball team, DJ Johnson is an asset in more ways than one."A player like him shows especially these young guys, what they need to attain, what they need to try to be," said coach Tay Sorrell. "Whether it be at practice or a game, he tries to win every one of them and it's big when you're trying to win at practice."Last season, Johnson averaged 14 points a game and shot 47 percent from the field. H...

When Marion County lost three-year starting cornerback Marquise Thomas, they knew it was going to be a tough spot to fill."He was huge in helping us win the State Championship," said head coach Mike Swaney. "Probably the best corner we've had here."But one year later, they've found a solution in David "DJ" Kelley, a junior on the Eagle squad who's been making strides."He's made more improvement in one year than anybody on our football team," Swan...

For Cortney Laye it all began because of his older brother, a high school football player who passed on that love to him."When I was in middle school I was like a little ball boy out here for him on the field so I felt like I was part of the team and I just always loved the game," he said.Fast forward a couple of years and Laye is now a senior on the Callaway High football team. He's a defensive end and tackle for Cavaliers who's been enjoying his last season. But once footba...

For junior Trent Kelley, being a center is no easy task, especially when it's for the Central High football team."I just have to think about it every snap and worrying about that and the blocking, it's just a lot of pressure sometimes," he said.It's Trent's first year snapping the football. He's a former left tackle who's now a center. Initially, it was a pretty difficult move, but it's also one he's been excelling at."He's a guy that can pick up defenses, he knows footb...

When Helen Snavely first began playing softball, she never imagined pitching.... until she had the chance in Peach Little League."It was our All-Star game that year and since it was coach pitch we didn't have a pitcher and it turned out that a girl from our team had to pitch," she said. "So, randomly one day I was throwing around in the outfield and I decided, hey, I can do this. So no lessons or everything, I went straight into the game and pitched."Ever since then...

Harris County senior Macie Edwards takes pride in being the captain of the dance team."It's an amazing feeling to teach them a dance that they're gonna perform for our entire school, especially at pep rallies because everyone in our entire school is there," she said. "It's really good to be able to teach them that and watch them grow as dancers."As an avid dancer, Macie can't imagine doing anything else. She's won two 1st place national titles and a 3rd place in her...

There's no denying that Beauregard wide receiver Heath Senn is someone you can count on."Quay Wright has a lot of confidence in him and you see that since they've grown up together since little league football," said head coach Rob Carter.For quarterback Quay Wright, Heath Senn has become one of his biggest targets this season. The senior has a couple of scores and is averaging roughly 30 yards a catch. He's a leader and consistent starter who's been playing football all his ...

It's a family affair that's turned into a love."I've been playing since I was seven," said Columbus softball player Nicole Humphries. "My older sister started playing and she's been playing all her life and she just got done playing college softball so my goal is to follow in her footsteps.Humphries is a senior center fielder on the Columbus High softball team. A girl who uses the accomplishments of her sister Kristen as motivation."She's a great role model," N...

For Calvary Christian's Morgan Osbourne, volleyball is more than just a hobby, it's a challenge."You need to be quick on your feet all the time," Osbourne said. "You need to be ready for the ball at any moment. You have to have the mentality that no ball drops." The senior volleyball player has been playing since the 8th grade and has since turned into a leader on a two-time state runner-up team."I think a lot of times today, they just choose captains base...