Hardin County High School Athlete of the Year/Courier Scholar Athlete

At the conclusion of each school year, seniors across the country are honored for their accomplishments as they leave one phase of their lives to begin another. Local schools are no exception, and this area has many students who finished outstanding high school careers. However, when students are also athletes, they must overcome many obstacles to achieve success. From the demands of their busy schedules to the physical endurance required by their sports, student athletes must meet many requirements.

Each year, the Courier recognizes those seniors chosen as Athletes of the Year. They are voted on by coaches and athletic directors from their respective schools. The newspaper also awards the Courier Scholar Athlete award to the male and female graduating seniors who participated in sports who earned the highest cumulative grade point averages.

Hardin County High School only has two winners this year as Christopher Jerrolds and Kristen Lackey earned both titles. This is quite an accomplishment for these young people, proving that they excelled both in the classroom and in athletics. The pair was also voted Mr. and Miss HCHS by their classmates, proving that they are well-rounded individuals who are respected by others.

Christopher Jerrolds

Jerrolds brought home many honors at his end of the year banquets at the conclusion of his senior year. The athlete, who competed in basketball, cross country, and track, graduated as valedictorian of his class. He was also named Mr. Basketball and was chosen Most Valuable Teammate for his performance on the court. He received the Coach’s Award in cross country.

Jerrolds averaged 7.1 points per game during his senior year in basketball. He also averaged 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.2 steals, and took a team-high 15 charges. In track he ran anchor on the relay team that finished third at the Dyersburg Invitational and second at the McKenzie Invitational.

Wes Wilkerson, head coach of Tiger basketball and track, is very complimentary of Jerrolds’ work ethic. “In four years of coaching Christopher, he only missed one practice, and that was because he was a finalist for student of the year. He gave 100 percent every day he played,” he said.

In addition to his commitment to his academics and sports, Jerrolds was the senior class president. He was president of the newly-formed Go Green Club at HCHS, which promotes recycling. He served as treasurer of the National Honor Society, and was a member of Student Council, Just Say No, and the English Honorarium.

At times Jerrolds felt overwhelmed by the pressure of his busy schedule. “It was hard, especially at certain times. During my junior year, I often would be out late because of a basketball game and then have two tests the next day. It was definitely difficult at times,” he said.

However, he believes his experiences will help him in the future and is grateful he was able to play sports. “I think young athletes should continue to work hard. They should always keep a positive attitude and never give up,” he said. Jerrolds, the son of Chris and Michelle Jerrolds, will be attending Vanderbilt University in the fall. He has not yet decided on a major.

Kristen Lackey

Lackey played both softball and volleyball at HCHS and excelled at both. Her love of sports has motivated her to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she will continue her softball career. She signed to play with the Lady Skyhawks in the spring. She wants to major in education and eventually return to her hometown to teach and coach.

Lackey was the ace pitcher of the Lady Tiger softball team that won their first ever district tournament. She was also a threat at the plate, finishing with a .443 batting average. She posted a .515 on base percentage during her senior season. Lackey also earned several awards for both her academics and athletics. In softball, she was selected All-District all four years of her high school career. She was also selected All-Tournament for three years, and she was named All-District MVP for her performance during her senior year.

In volleyball she was named All-District for three years. She was the team’s MVP during both her junior and sophomore years. Lackey graduated eleventh in her class. She was a member of Student Council, Just Say No, the English Honorarium, and Tiger Radio.

As she participated in sports, Lackey admitted there were times she did not want to practice. However, she remained committed to her goals and is glad that she did as she believes the lessons she learned impacted her in many ways other than just her athletic ability. “It all paid off,” she said. “My parents instilled faith in me, and that also definitely helped a lot.” She is the daughter of Kent and Rhonda Lackey.