John Phillips Award & Scrappy Moore Male

Athlete of the Year

Orlandus Harris

Brainerd

Track and field

Ten years from now I see myself playing on an NFL team. That’s my dream, but if that dream doesn’t come true I hope to become a great track or football coach back here in Chattanooga.

I would love the chance to be a coach in my hometown because I know how it is growing up here as a teenager, and kids always need something or somebody positive in their lives. I really think I would fit that role because trouble is easy to find but it’s tough to get out of, and I could warn kids about that.

For kids to see that I had made it would give them hope.

— Orlandus Harris

Jim Phifer Award & Scrappy Moore Female

Athlete of the Year

Brooke Pancake

Baylor

Golf

Within the next 10 years of my life, I hope first to graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in either business or marketing. With good health and discipline, those years should provide me with a solid college golf career and a strong academic background, which will be tremendous preparation for life.

I aspire to become a professional golfer after college. If that does not work out, I will definitely want to be involved in the golf industry in some way, possibly as an instructor.

In 10 years I will be 28 years old and hope to be married to a Christian man. I long to live my life in a way that is admirable and honoring to God, my family, my friends and to my team at Alabama, which is giving me the wonderful opportunity to play.

— Brooke Pancake

Tyler Massey

Baylor

Baseball

When asked what I want to be in 10 years, I already knew my answer. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to play major league baseball. After a lot of time and sacrifices, the hard work has paid off and some of my dreams seem closer.

I see myself in 10 years in the early stages of my major league career. I also see myself helping younger kids who have a passion for baseball like I did. I owe it to those younger kids because I have received so much help in my baseball career. Also, I know what it would mean even now for me to have the help of a major league baseball player.

I have a true passion and love for the game of baseball, so I will pursue my dreams of playing in the big leagues for as long as I can. Every day my hope is to play and respect the game in order that I can give something back, because I know the game has already given so much to me.

— Tyler Massey

Mickey Haddock Award

Waldo du Plessis

Baylor

Cross country

Where I want to be 10 years from now is a really tough question, and I am not completely sure I know yet. However, there are three things that I am certain I will want in my life at that time.

Firstly, I would want my degree or honors in engineering. I am not sure if I am going to study civil engineering or industrial engineering. I want to be working and maybe getting to the point where I could start my own firm. I am not sure if I will be working in South Africa, Europe or in the United States.

Secondly, I could see myself being married in 10 years and starting a family. Yet again I am not sure where I will be living, but I know that I will want to be a father.

Lastly, I would still be running in 10 years. However, it would most likely be toward the end of my career, as most professional runners end their careers around the age of 30. I am not sure if I will be a professional or a semi-professional, but I am sure that I will still want to compete to the point where I am competitive.

And although runners do not earn much money, it will not be about the money for me, because running is something I love doing and nothing will be able to change my views on running. I have enjoyed running throughout high school, and I look forward to running in college and maybe past college.

— Waldo du Plessis

Jonathan Gregory

Ringgold

Wrestling

In 10 years I would love to see myself still involved in football, either playing or coaching. My plan is to become a teacher and coach high school football in this area, preferably at Ringgold but I wouldn’t be too picky.

If I’m coaching in this area, it will still be good old Southern football, and I always want to be a part of the game. There is nothing better than playing under the lights on a Friday night in your hometown in front of your closest friends.

Football is not the only sport I love, though. In 10 years I would like to open a wrestling club for this area. Every year this area produces multiple state champions, and a club could help them get ready for the next level. Working with kids on the sports I love is what I would like to be doing for years to come.

I would also like to coach high school wrestling or just be a part of a program. I want to share my experience with young wrestlers and talk about the intensity of wrestling on a mat in front of thousands of people for a state championship. I want to tell them how it feels to pin your opponent and look over at your friends and family in your corner.

When you love these sports as much as I do, it gets in your blood, and you can’t leave them even if you wanted to. I plan to be giving back to both sports for a long time, because both have given me so much and I just want to give back.

— Jonathan Gregory

Football

E.B. “Red” Etter Award

Tim Benford

One thing I would like to be doing in 10 years is playing professional sports. I could be either in the NFL or the NBA, but I would prefer to play pro football becuase I think I’m better in that sport and have a better chance to make it there.

But if that doesn’t work out, I would like to start my own business, either a club or a clothing store. I would also like to think that I would have started a family and be able to support them very well and be a great father.

Besides owning a store, as a side job I would very much like to coach at Red Bank or another high school.

Volleyball

Neely-Merrill Award

Gretchen Higdon, Ooltewah

No one knows where they will be in the years to come, but we all have an idea of what we would like to be doing. When I begin to think of where I will be in 10 years and what I will be doing, a lot of things come to mind. I would like to be married with two or three children. I want to live in Cleveland, Tennessee. I want to have a job that I truly love and enjoy doing every day.

Volleyball has done so much for me, so I would really like to teach young girls the game I love.

Claire Bartlett

In 10 years I would like to be doing several things. First, I would like to be playing tennis professionally. Playing on the pro circuit has always been a dream of mine, and it drives me to work harder and harder every day. I have already started to play some pro events and have enjoyed the many aspects of the tour life like traveling, meeting new people and constantly learning new things.

Also, I would like to have a major in international relations and a minor in French. I can see myself writing for a French magazine, starting up my own NGO for underdeveloped countries, studying international law or maybe even getting involved with the United Nations.

DARIUS RICKS

In 10 years I see myself being a professional basketball player. I would play internationally, getting to travel to different countries, because I want to venture out and see more than just the United States.

After that I think I will move back to the U.S. and start an athletic camp for kids. I would love to train children and teach them that you can be anything you want to be if you just believe in yourself.

Hopefully, coming from someone who made it to the professional level, I will have the chance to give kids the type training that I didn’t have at their age. I want to take kids off the streets and be a good role model to them.

Also, I want to come home and make enough money to take care of my family. I want to teach my son, Darius Ricks Jr., how to pursue his dream. I know I will be in my son’s life forever, teaching him everything I know and being the best father I can be. I want my son to be better than me and more advanced in his life than me.

In 10 years I know I am going to make my family and friends proud. I might visit Howard School athletes and teach them about life ahead, or I just might be in coach Walter McGary’s position.

Gordon Lee senior Kori Penland

Best of Preps essay

Girls’ basketball

American businessman and author Herman Cain once said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” I believe this quote applies to all aspects of life, and I try to apply it to everything I do. In 10 years, I will be a college graduate, career woman and wife.

In 10 years, I will have a secondary education and mathematics degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. This degree will help me start a career as a high school math teacher. Helping people and making a difference has always been a goal of mine.

My love of the game of basketball will not stop when I graduate from college. I will continue coaching at the high school level. My college playing experience will enable me to coach my team to success. As my coaches have done for me, I hope to develop determined, respectful and motivated players.

Although my career and basketball have always ranked high on my list of priorities, my main focus will be on my family. I hope to be happily married and beginning a family of my own. I believe by doing things I love, I will no doubt find success.

Daniel Tackling

Ooltewah

Soccer

Where do I see myself in 10 years? At this point in my life, there is no certainty to where I will be in six months. Optimistically, looking down the road, I see myself playing professionally overseas. Being a professional athlete has always been my biggest dream, and striving toward it has been an ongoing attempt this year. Having the possibility of reaching my goal at the end of the summer has brought about many emotions and thoughts about where I will end up in the near future.

Ever since I was 2 years old, I have been playing soccer. My dream of wanting to play professionally has stuck with me since I was 6. I have played with many different teams since then to give me the necessary skills to play at the higher levels. Since the beginning of the year, I have started working toward making my dreams a reality. In January, I attended the Infosport Pro Combine, where my skills were challenged with players across the country and even from places outside the United States. I played MLS players and players at other various places.

I was surprised at how well I played, and the evaluation I received where the coach said I could play at a higher level. Being 17, my teammates also had very encouraging advice to leave me with, and many comments that made my dreams feel even closer to me.

Since then, my parents have helped me get to the necessary soccer teams and people that can take me to the higher level. Finally, my dreams can become success, but it won’t come easy. It’s a great opportunity and it would be great to look back to this writing 10 years from now doing everything I hoped for in my youth.

— Daniel Tackling

Holly Thomas

Ooltewah

Softball

When people ask where I see myself five or 10 years from now, I always have trouble giving them an answer. I am going to college at Tennessee Tech University in a few months and I can’t even decide what I want to study.

Ten years from now seems so far away, and I can never picture what my life will be like. So I guess all I can do is hope that in 10 years I will be happy about where I am and the experiences that got me there.

I believe it is important to experience new things and to do what makes you happy. I hope I will have accomplished some of my goals, such as traveling to places I have never been and studying abroad.

I also hope I have found a career I enjoy and perhaps be starting a family. Most of all, wherever I am in 10 years, I hope I am able to enjoy life each day and look forward to the future.

— Holly Thomas

Tech Talk