By Blake Ells Vestavia Hills senior volleyball star Hannah Vines had a busy summer. She and Bayside Academy’s Sam Koby were selected to represent Alabama at the National Federation of State High School Associations’ Student Leadership Summit. NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner kicked off the summit, which was held July 23-25 in Indianapolis, with a message that Vines said … [Read more...]
Off-The-Field Battles: Hoover’s Avery Hoven Overcomes Eating Disorder, Channeling Experience Into Life’s Work
When University of Alabama at Birmingham beach volleyball student-athlete Avery Hoven took the court in 2016, her teammates, coaches, family and UAB fans were in awe of her athletic abilities. What they were unaware of was the personal battle she was tackling off the field. A Division I athlete of three years, Hoven was struggling with an unspecified eating … [Read more...]
Lifetime Experience: Mountain Brook’s Lewis Relishes Running in the Special Olympics USA Games
By Rubin E. Grant Dara Tribble never figured her son would become a runner. But there was Drew Lewis running for Team Alabama in the Special Olympics USA Games July 1-6 in Seattle. Lewis has dyspraxia, which is a developmental coordination disorder. He didn’t start walking until he was almost 2 and needed assistance from his parents to walk around the house. “So, the fact … [Read more...]
Team Work: Mountain Brook Player Uses the Game to Raise Money for Kids’ Cancer Research
Blake Ells Alex's Lemonade Stand was founded by Alexandra Scott in 2000. Scott had been diagnosed with pediatric cancer at a young age and wanted a way to help raise money for other kids who were facing the same situation. With the help of her brother Patrick, her first lemonade stand raised $2,000, and by the time she passed away in 2004, she had raised more than $1 million … [Read more...]
Dream Job: Vestavia Hills’ Lemons Chasing Major League Baseball Career
By Rubin E. Grant Caden Lemons is living the dream a year after starting his dream job. The 19-year-old from Vestavia Hills High School is playing professional baseball for the Arizona Brewers, the rookie level minor league team of the Milwaukee Brewers. “It’s awesome, honestly,” Lemons said during a phone conversation from Phoenix. “It’s hands down the best job in the … [Read more...]