By Tim Gayle

Photo Credit: Tim Gayle and Jessica Sedgwick

PRATTVILLE – Jenna Stilling made history on Monday night. She hopes to continue that trend on Tuesday as well.

Stilling became Prattville Christian Academy’s first female recipient of the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award at the 35^th annual Prattville YMCA-Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Christian Leadership Banquet at the Prattville YMCA’s Willis Bradford branch.

On Tuesday night, she’ll aim for another first as the PCA girls’ soccer team entertains Holy Spirit at Panther Stadium in search of the school’s first-ever playoff victory in soccer.

“My team has worked really hard this year,” she said. “We definitely had our challenges at the beginning of the year with COVID. But we worked our way up to where we are now and I’m proud of where we’ve come from and I hope (Tuesday) night we’re able to make history.”

The annual banquet, initiated in 1987 as a way of honoring Autauga County’s senior student-athletes, has been limited the past two years with COVID-19 limitations still in place mandating social distancing. After 33 years at the First United Methodist Church, the past two banquets have been held at the YMCA.

This year’s banquet included the addition of a new award designed the honor the top high school coaches in the county.

“Coaches are special people,” Prattville YMCA director David Lewis said, “and almost every one of us here tonight can agree that at some point our lives were touched by a coach in a way that still yields a positive impact. We’re so fortunate to have many great men and women here in Prattville and Autauga County who have invested their lives in developing young people. Tonight, on behalf of the board of trustees at the Prattville YMCA, it is my distinct privilege that as we move forward, we’ll be providing an opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of our county’s most outstanding coaches each year with the establishment of the Otis Reeves Outstanding Coaches Award.”

Reeves, who is best known for his work as the YMCA’s gymnastics coach, has coached most of the sports provided by the YMCA over his 49-year coaching career. Reeves, who retired earlier this year, was primarily responsible for the first 34 banquets as well.

The biggest award, however, was the final one presented. Stilling, a captain on the PCA girls’ soccer team, is only the second PCA athlete to ever win the award, joining Andrew Brackins (2010). A member of Centerpoint Fellowship Church, she plans to attend Oklahoma Christian University to pursue a computer science degree.

After Stilling and five other representatives were presented their schools’ Christian Leadership Award, Mike Lamar read the accomplishments of the winner, leading up to the announcement of the Willis Bradford Award.

“I read through the social media posts that the YMCA put out about a week ago (detailing the finalists for the award) and I know that all those statements described every single one of the individuals out here, so I really wasn’t expecting it,” Stilling said. “I’m definitely an introvert so being put into all the leadership positions has really challenged me to grow. I remember a quote from Carrie Fisher, who said to ‘stay afraid but do it anyway.’ I definitely apply that every day where I’m asked to speak in front of people or stand up and lead my club or my soccer team.”

The award was first presented to Marbury’s Jonathon Seamon in 1991 (there have been dual winners twice) and aims to promote the mission of the FCA and the YMCA to impact young people for Jesus Christ and to honor the student-athletes of Autauga County high schools that have demonstrated Christian leadership in their school and community.

When the banquet started in 1987, it was designed to honor all of the senior athletes at each of Autauga County’s five schools, but it added East Memorial and Prattville Christian when they opened in later years and changed its format to honor up to five athletes at each school as members of the Christian Leadership Circle. Starting in 1991, an overall winner was selected from the school’s nominees for the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship.

For the first time, a second-generation nominee was on hand as Marbury’s Kalee Seamon is the daughter of the inaugural winner, Jonathon Seamon. Kalee plays volleyball at Marbury and was chosen as the captain of the team this past season. An active member of Clanton Church of God, she plans to attend Alabama State in the fall where she will major in early childhood education.

The other four nominees for the Willis Bradford Award were:

Alana Acreman played volleyball and was captain of the cheer squad at Billingsley. Laney also served as president of the senior class and is a member of Zion Ridge Church of God. She plans to attend Jefferson State Community College and later transfer to Troy University for a degree in nursing.

Robert Jennings (R.J.) Meyer served as team captain of the Prattville football team and runs track as well. He ranks in the top 10 in his senior class and is a member of First Baptist Church. He plans to attend Auburn University in the fall where he will study business analytics and computer science.

Ariel Parker ran track, played volleyball and served as a cheerleader for Autaugaville, serving as the cheer captain the past two years. A member of the Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, she plans to attend college to pursue a nursing degree and become a traveling registered nurse.

Katherine White is a basketball, volleyball and soccer player for Autauga Academy as well as a cheerleader, being selected as the captain of the basketball, soccer and cheer squads. An active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, she plans to attend Auburn University in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.

Since 2008, the Prattville YMCA has presented the T.O. McDowell Christian Leadership Award to an athlete who has displayed servant leadership through the YMCA and community activities. This year, Prattville High senior Margaret Lewis earned the honor after participating in Prattville Theatre for three years and serving on the theatre cabinet as vice president and director of community outreach, participating in sports as a diamond doll and as a member of the International Thespian Society, serving as a member of First United Methodist’s youth choir for six years, a member of the Youth Student Leadership for 3 years and as a lifeguard and head swim instructor at the Prattville YMCA. Her older sister Madeline won the award in 2020.

For the 14th year, schools selected up to five student-athletes for the YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Circle. Beginning this year, one of those selections is awarded the “Emerging Christian Leadership Award.” The selections included:

Autaugaville High School – Makiah Burns, LaDarrien Golson, Danisha Bradford and Devin Phillips. Emerging Christian Leadership Award winner: Deontae Hester.

Billingsley High School – Randriquis McCary, Ashlon Harrison, Audreyiona Wright, Macie Hubbard. Emerging Christian Leadership Award winner: Jackson Manning.

Marbury High School – Cayton Garmon, Brantley Denny, Jazalyn Morrisette, Dalyce Sanders. Emerging Christian Leadership Award winner: Maddox Hollon.

Prattville High School – Quinshod Lamar Deramus, Kate Pass, Trey Myrick, Ren Wilson. Emerging Christian Leadership Award winner: Edward James Ousley.

Autauga Academy – A.J. Perry, Lee Davis, Colin Edwards. Emerging Christian Leadership Award winner: Kathryn Hughes.

Prattville Christian Academy – Emily Kamykowski, Sydney Jorgensen, Hannah Jones, Avery Rogers. Emerging Christian Leadership Award winner: Ella Jane Connell.