By Tyler Waldrep Sydney Steely has been a mainstay finisher in the cross-country top eight since she joined Hoover’s varsity team as an seventh-grader five years ago. Her success likely wouldn’t have been possible without her mother, Sonia Steely, who runs two or three miles almost daily before heading to work as a CrossFit trainer. At some point, Sydney Steely began joining … [Read more...]
A Big Performance for Birmingham Littles: Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Plans Star-Studded Talent Performance
Performers big and little will take to the stage for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham’s sixth annual “A Night of Big Stars” Aug. 5 at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. “This is an event that we really get excited about. It’s heartwarming to see our Littles pour so much energy into the production. It’s a great oppor- tunity for these children to shine in the … [Read more...]
Technique and Intensity: Oak Mountain Player and Coach Head to All-Star Soccer Matchup
By Tyler Waldrep Almost two years ago, Clay Holstad watched his older brother, Hunter Holstad, represent Oak Mountain in the North-South All-Star boys’ soccer game. As a fan of the sport, Clay Holstad admired the talent on display; as his brother’s biggest fan, he cheered; and as a player, he added another goal to his list. “It was always something I strove for,” Clay … [Read more...]
Doctor in The Gardens: Tommy and Yates Amason Are This Year’s Antiques at The Gardens Honorees
By Blake Ells Dr. Thomas G. Amason Jr. is a gardener. Well, Amason is a lot of things. He served in the Navy, he’s a pediatrician, he’s a philanthropist and he’s a Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens trustee who served as chairman of the board of directors in 2008-2010. He was a gardener when he was 12 years old and he’s a gardener in semi-retirement. But “gardener” … [Read more...]
Back From the Brink: Mountain Brook’s Wetzler Caps Football Career With North-South Game
By Tyler Waldrep When Mountain Brook met Tuscaloosa County on the football field last fall, the Spartan’s head coach, Chris Yeager, watched as 10 of his defenders ran to shut a play down. The only one not running to the ball was team-leader and middle linebacker Will Wetzler. But he didn’t have to take off running to the ball. It was coming to him; the handoff had been a … [Read more...]