Jaime Gonzalez: Ben Bolt

Ben Bolt senior Jaime Gonzalez finds himself involved with sports throughout the year. Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, or track, he is constantly involved. Sports were something passed down from his family, and a love that he inherited.

Though Gonzalez is involved in as many sports as he can, basketball is his favorite. Whether he is playing or watching, he simply loves the game. He also sees the benefits of sports that exceed the competition of them.

“The coaches talk about how athletics is a shaping and teaching tool. Life lessons, overcoming adversity, and work ethic are all big.” Gonzalez said.

That work ethic has led to Gonzalez being recognized for All-District awards in basketball, football, and baseball, as well as academic all-district in basketball. Even while participating in as many sports as he can, he still finds himself as a member of the National Honor Society.

His’s community is something that means a lot to him. The support that he feels they give at sporting events is something he wishes to reciprocate. He has been involved with his National Honor Society’s “Toys for Tots” program and is involved with blood drives. He even assists his mom at the COVID vaccine facility in any way he could. He constantly tries to find ways to give back.

After high school, Gonzalez will be attending Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The medical field has always been of interest to him, and he plans to major in biomedical sciences. He hopes to one day become an anesthesiologist and continue his love of helping.

Ellie Ward: Bishop Reicher

For as long as Ellie Ward can remember, sports have been apart of her life. A passion introduced by her dad and brothers stuck with Ellie as she grew up. The senior at Bishop Reicher now finds herself constantly involved in athletics.

Not only is Ward involved in athletics, but she also excels in them. She was first team all-district in volleyball, as well as being a state champion in softball in 2019 and a runner up in 2018. It is in her favorite sport, basketball, where she has garnered the most attention. Ellie was district MVP four times, first team all-district four times, was awarded both first and second team all-state, and was two-time Super Centex First-Team.

That same competitive spirit is found in the classroom as well. Not only was Ellie awarded a Classroom Champion award this year, she is also involved with National Honor Society, German National Honor Society, and has been on the high honor roll all four years of high school.

When she is not in school, working, or playing AAU basketball,l she is involved with her church. Going on mission trips to Missouri, volunteering to help clean churches, and being involved in vacation bible school are all ways that she tries to give back.

Ellie is set to continue her basketball career on the next level for Southwestern, where she also wants to be involved in the sports kinesiology program. She hopes to pursue a career in the field and allow her to continue working in the field she loves.