5 minute read
Service
HAYDEN PUETT
Hayden Puett has always been an active spirit. “Starting in 3rd or 4th grade… I would wake up really early… start running. I figured I should get some exercise,” Puett said. Starting both her running career and, subsequently, her tennis career in middle school, Puett soon thrived as a dependable, key asset– but not without struggle and tremendous effort.
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“I would not describe myself as a natural athlete,” Puett said. Over the course of her high school athletic career, it has taken tremendous mental acuity and physical dedication to achieve the level of competition she has. This has enabled her to play an essential part in securing HIES athletics milestones, including back-to-back-to-back middle school cross country championship titles as well as contributing to deep runs into the girls’ tennis tournament. “With running and tennis, they are both team sports… but you can succeed individually,” Puett said. This balance between the opportunity for self-growth and the social, “team” aspect of both sports has always appealed to her.
In addition to her athletic prowess, Puett juggles a challenging academic curriculum, a strict devotion schedule (beyond the typical Sunday church attendance), and ample service projects. As Puett looks forward to college and beyond, she is confident that good things are in store: “I trust in the plan God has for my life,” Puett said. And if her achievements thus far are any indication, her faith is well-placed.
As Puett heads off for Charlottesville to further her academic career in college, her athletic career will continue informally– you will likely find her running around grounds in the fall.
Basketball is just a silly and mindless sport for jocks in the eyes of some people, but to Justin Wilson– it is so far from that. “Growing up I was always in the gym around my brothers who played… it was second-hand nature for me to pick up the Basketball” Wilson said.
First starting his career at the tender age of 7, Wilson quickly fell in love with the game. “It gave me a chance to get away from reality… to be in my own world” Wilson remarked. He emphasized that in Basketball, he, in great part, is in control of his own outcome.
Though his teammates are important to the overall success of the team’s season, he is able to individually improve his own skill set through unwavering dedication and hardwork.
Wilson was quick to clarify that school comes ahead of Basketball on his list of priorities. “School is the priority. Though it sounds funny to say, without school, you won’t be able to play.” And as such, Wilson strives to succeed academically by focusing on his grades.
While balancing his rigorous Senior year schedule, Wilson contributed as the starting point guard, leading the team to a Regional Championship victory and the Runner-up title in the State tournament.
As Wilson continues his deliberations over school for next year, he continues hoping for the opportunity to walk-on. And we here at HIES are all certainly rooting for him.
Athletics
JUSTIN WILSON
MAC MITCHELL
HIES star offensive tackle and defensive end, Golden Bear number 78, Mac Mitchell has been striding across the football field since as young as eight years old. Mitchell began his football career on the fields of the Northside Youth Organization (NYO). After playing for NYO, Mitchell’s family moved to Memphis. Despite the move, Mitchell remained undaunted and, instead, became only more dedicated to football.
When Mitchell’s family moved back to Atlanta, he joined the HIES football team for middle school. Mitchell played throughout all of middle school and would join the junior varsity and varsity team for high school. Throughout Mitchell’s time on the team, HIES has shattered numerous records. “Last football season, the 2019 season, was very memorable—specifically, the state championship when we won 42 to 41. The next week after that, we went off to Wesleyan, one of our biggest rivals, and we beat them 31 to nothing,” Mitchell said.
While Mitchell admits that “playoff games can always be a little nerve-racking,” he uses AC/ DC to calm himself before big games. In addition to his use of hype music and his steadfast commitment, Mitchell most credits his football achievement to “putting in the hours in the weight room and simply putting in the necessary time.”
As Mitchell departs for Auburn University, of which he has been a “lifelong fan,” he will be leaving football behind -- for now -- to focus on his academics. But he will always cherish the memories and valuable relationships with teammates and coaches alike that football has made possible.
Charlsie Birkel’s athletic history is a tale of two sports: softball and basketball. The team player is hard-pressed to choose a favorite sport, but both of her athletic endeavors have led to lasting friendships. Kennedy Suttle ‘19 and Hollis Gotlieb ‘19 are both role models and friends for Birkel. Beyond excelling athletically, these girls set an example in their character and work ethic. Birkel recalls Suttle diligently beginning a statistics assignment after her basketball game when most of her team watched the boys basketball game that followed.
“I just remember thinking, she really has her priorities together,” Birkel said. “She didn’t have much time to do homework, and so she would find little gaps when she could do it.”
In her senior year of high school, Birkel finds herself now serving her younger teammates as a “maternal” figure.
“A lot of people came to me for non-basketball related stuff, and they would just talk to me about what’s going on in their personal life,” Birkel said. “I would just give them my advice.”
Significant successes accompanied Birkel’s personal growth and mentorship in her athletic career. Birkel aided the girls basketball team in winning back-to-back state championship titles, and she ensured the softball team had a deep run in the playoffs each year. Her next four years will be spent at the University of Georgia, and Birkel is considering playing sports at the club or intramural level within her college community.
-C.S Lewis
