By Rubin E. Grant
Tyler Waugh’s mother, Dana, already had left the house last Tuesday morning when she received the list of Wendy’s Heisman High School Scholarship winners.
She forwarded the list to Waugh, a senior football and baseball player for Briarwood Christian, and he discovered his name was on the list as the male winner from Alabama. Ashville’s Meghan McCarthy was the female winner.
“It’s awesome,” Waugh said. “I am happy, grateful and thankful for all the people who have pushed me, my family, coaches, teachers, school administrators and teammates. They have all encouraged me to do my best.”
The Heisman Memorial Trophy symbolizes the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The Heisman High School Scholarship extends the Heisman prestige to the nation’s most esteemed male and female high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field, but in their schools and communities.
Waugh is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu-Alpha Theta and Spanish Honor Society; a student ambassador and a Furman Scholar. He plans to play sports in college, major in biomedical sciences and attend medical school.
Briarwood athletic director Jay Matthews praised Waugh for his competitiveness and character.
“He’s one of the most competitive athletes we’ve ever had at Briarwood,” Mathews said. “He’s one of the best leaders I’ve seen since I’ve been here.”
Waugh and McCarthy were chosen from school winners across the state and will be eligible for the South region top athletes. Male and female athletes from each of six districts make up the 12 national finalists, which were to be announced Nov. 9.
