Athletes are often faced with intense competitions, losing games and stressful situations, and one organization wants to recognize students who can shine outside of that.
“About 98 percent of kids who play high school sports won’t go on to play in college, but they all will go on to be productive members of society,” says Ryan Pederson, vice president of Positive Athlete, an organization started by him and his father Scott more than 10 years ago to recognize students for their character. “Most athletes retire by age 35, so what are you bringing to society after that — what are you doing in the world after that?”
The Positive Athlete organization named its Regional Award Winners for the South Atlanta Region, recognizing nearly 30 students in boys and girls high school sports, as well as two coaches and Ola High School, as the Most Positive in their categories. Of those, 13 students are from Henry County.
“Henry County is one of the most supportive school systems,” Pederson said, adding that they received 6,800 nominations from 400 schools across the state. “They have adopted it and decided that it’s something they want to celebrate.”
After multiple nominations, Ola High School in McDonough was named the Most Positive High School in the region.
“Our coaches work consistently to instill these character traits in our student-athletes and not simply athletic skills. They then take the time to recognize and honor our athletes when they exemplify these traits,” says Beau Edwards, athletic director at Ola High School, which has been honored the last two years. “By celebrating those who maintain a positive attitude, support their teammates, and uphold the values of respect and perseverance, this award reinforces the importance of personal integrity in sports. It encourages all students to strive for excellence both on and off the field, fostering a culture of positivity and inclusivity within the school community.”
Hampton High School Tennis coach Erica O’Neal nominated senior Travis Swain Jr. for the award.
“He’s a natural leader — everyone looks to him like he’s a little hero, helping them out if they’re struggling,” she says, adding that he also will set up group chats and often shuts down teasing. “He always finds something positive to say to people on the team, even to parents, and even when we lose, he finds a way to say or do something positive.”
Swain started playing tennis his freshman year after not being a very athletic child and struggled at first, but he attended daily practices, came early and stayed late, asked questions and enlisted outside help to gain better skills.
“(The award) is a testament to the work I put in,” says Swain, who works at Chick-fil-A in McDonough and also is the drum major. “I definitely want to go out with a bang and leave a good impact on some younger students, showing them that no matter what it is, you can achieve virtually anything if you put in the work and have the work ethic.”
Cooper Nunnally, a senior at Strong Rock Christian School who was nominated for boys Lacrosse by his school’s athletic trainer, is a natural competitor, also playing football since he was 4-years-old. He says it’s easy to get down when the team is losing but knows he has to keep his head up to keep moving forward.
“It makes it a lot easier when you’re on the field with your friends,” notes Nunnally, who has played sports with many of his teammates since he was younger and likes to go out to eat with them after practices and games.
The application window for the Positive Athlete Award opens each September and usually runs through the beginning of April. Adults, such as coaches, teachers, and parents, can nominate students in public and private schools for free.
“Our goal is to recognize who they are as people, whether they are giving back to the community or overcoming difficult circumstances or just being a really great kid,” Pederson explains. “They could be one of the best players or they could just be one of the participants.”
By Michelle Floyd
