Spring sports senior profiles, an ongoing series

by Kelley Pearson, Sports Editor
Union Bear track senior Jacob Mullins. PHOTO BY KELLEY PEARSON
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With the spring sports season in question, we here at the Coalfield Progress/Dickenson Star/Big Stone Gap Post hope to run a profile on each and every senior in the paper. Our intention is to give them and their families something to feel happy about in a time of such uncertainty. This will be an ongoing series with different students featured each week.

Union softball’s Brooke Light

Eighteen-year-old Brooke Light transferred into Union’s softball program when she was in eighth grade. Having always played centerfield, she credits former coach Mike Rhodes with giving her a chance and putting her in the infield at shortstop.

“I quickly fell in love with the position and played there all four years (of high school),” Light said.

Growing up, Light played a multitude of sports including softball, basketball and soccer. She soon discovered that softball was her favorite and became a single sport athlete in high school.

Light intends to attend college to become a registered nurse and pursue her dream of working at the University of Tennessee hospital.

Light is holding onto hope at the idea she may be able to play an abbreviated softball season, but is “devastated” at losing the end of her senior year.

“It's honestly heartbreaking,” Light said. “You always dream about your senior year being the best year of your life, but ours was cut short and we will never be able to get that back. Softball really gave me something to look forward to. I felt like this year was going to be our year and I'm still holding onto that thought. I hope we get to play our senior season and put on our jerseys one last time.”

To her teammates, Light leaves a message of the importance of never taking anything for granted.

“You never know when you will be having a long practice, lacing up your cleats, putting your uniform on, or braiding your hair and making your eye black perfect will be the last time you do it. Live life to the fullest. Always put 100% into every game and every practice,” Light said.

To her fellow seniors, Light has nothing but thanks and appreciation.

“Thank you for pushing me to become the best that I could be. Thank you for the endless memories that we had the last three years. Even though our senior season is being pushed back, I am still holding onto the fact that we are going to make a statement our senior year and show everyone that we are going to come back better after this devastating delay,” Light said.

Union track’s Nathan Hersel

Nathan Hersel, 18, has been involved in baseball, soccer, basketball, football and running his entire life. He was able to narrow that down to running cross-country as well as indoor and outdoor track for his senior year.

Hersel has not decided whether or not he will be running in college and is also undecided as to which college he will attend. He has confirmed he will be majoring in engineering.

Hersel led the Union cross-country team to a state championship in the fall and was looking forward to having that success carry over into their spring track season. Last year, the Union 4x800 track team placed second at state and had the potential to bring home another state championship this year.

“We only had a few weeks of track practice; however, the entire team was excited and focused on the season. It is very disappointing that we did not even have the opportunity to compete just one time. We had a very talented group of guys coming back and I believe that we would have surprised many people,” Hersel said.

Hersel encourages his fellow teammates and seniors to look to the future: “This season may be over too soon, but we all still have many great opportunities ahead of us to look forward to.”

Union track’s Jacob Mullins

Jacob Mullins, 17, grew up playing basketball and running cross-country. After his sophomore year, he decided to focus on cross-country and the accolades poured in.

In his sophomore, junior and senior years he earned all-district and all-region honors and in addition this year, he earned the all-state designation as well as the team state championship.

When participating in track in his junior year, Mullins also earned all-state honors in the 800 meter run.

Mullins will be attending UVA Wise and is unsure of his major or if he will continue running cross-country.

Mullins is trying to find balance in losing part of his senior year and potentially his spring track season.

“I feel all things happen for a reason,” Mullins said. “Although I hate I may miss my senior year of track, I understand the precaution the state is taking and hopeful that VHSL will allow us to hold the season this summer.”

To his teammates, Mullins leaves a message on the importance of practice and perseverance.

“I encourage you to work hard and always strive for personal perfection,” Mullins said.

Union soccer’s Luke Needham

Eighteen-year-old Luke Needham grew up playing a variety of different sports including basketball, baseball and football, but narrowed the field down to soccer and golf in his senior year.

Needham has opted not to continue his athletic career in college as he attends James Madison University.

Needham is trying to stay positive despite losing part of his senior year and possibly losing out on his last year of soccer.

“I am very excited about the future and looking past all the negative happening in the world right now,” Needham said. “It is saddening to think about the school year and sport seasons ending. I never thought that it would come to this and I would love to get the chance to play again, or to walk across the graduation stage.”

Needham wants to make sure his fellow teammates have learned what he has learned from this experience.

“I have learned that you need to live in the moment and to not take anything for granted,” Needham said.