WILLIS BRADFORD AWARD: PCA's Rogers becomes second family member to earn the honor
Prattville Christian Academy’s Baylee Rogers was presented the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award during Monday’s banquet at Prattville First Methodist Church. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
PRATTVILLE -- Baylee Rogers never set a goal of winning the Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award but after watching her older sister Avery win the award two years ago, her competitive spirit took over.
“We’re super competitive,” she observed, “so anything we can beat the other in… She had this over me for a while, but we’re competitive in everything we do so…”
Rogers became the 39th recipient of the award at the 40th annual Prattville YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Banquet on Monday night at the Prattville First Methodist Church, joining her sister as two of the four Prattville Christian Academy recipients in the history of the event.
“I think it’s just great to show what our parents have done by raising us,” she said. “They’re awesome parents and they really push our relationship with Christ to be at the forefront of our lives. They’re always encouraging us that even though we play sports, that’s not the most important thing to us. It should be Christ.”
The event was initiated in 1987 as a way of honoring Autauga County’s senior student-athletes, but soon evolved into an award named for Bradford, the first director of the Prattville YMCA. The Willis Bradford Christian Leadership Award was first presented to Marbury’s Jonathon Seamon in 1991 (there have been dual winners three times, including last year) and aims to promote the mission of the FCA and the YMCA to impact young people for Jesus Christ and to honor the student-athletes of Autauga County high schools that have demonstrated Christian leadership in their school and community.
And even though Rogers was the Willis Bradford Award nominee from Prattville Christian Academy, she never realized that Mike Lamar was rattling off her accolades as he previewed the winning recipient of the award.
“When they said ‘her,’ I said it’s going to be me or Alana (Jones) from Billingsley,” Rogers said. “I had no idea.”
Rogers, an all-state volleyball standout who also participates in basketball and soccer, will attend the University of Mobile next fall on a volleyball scholarship and plans to major in Christian ministry and become a missionary.
As one of the state’s top setters, Rogers’ best sport is volleyball and she hopes to enhance her ability at the collegiate level by concentrating on one sport.
“I think there’s some benefits and some weaknesses with that,” Rogers said. “Sports like soccer and basketball keep you in shape. You’re a little bit faster in those seasons in different things, but I think it’ll be nice to sort of rest and relax and focus on one sport and those skills, not worrying about everything else.”
Each school selects a nominee for the Bradford Award and each of the five nominees were honored with the third annual Horace Powell Scholarship, the former head football coach at Autauga County High in 1965-68 who promoted sports in the county throughout his life, including his time as a founding member of the YMCA Board of Management from 1963 until he passed away in 2022.
In addition to Rogers, the Horace Powell Scholarship recipients were:
• McKinley Hester of Autauga Academy, a four-year varsity cheerleader, team captain and All-American honoree.
• Alana Jones of Billingsley, who plays basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross country and flag football for the Bears.
• Ava Larkin of Marbury, a cross country team captain for the Bulldogs.
• Aiden Urnis of Prattville, a four-year varsity shortstop in baseball who is an all-star selection.
The featured speaker was FCA intern Caleb Harrell, a football player at Tuskegee University. Harrell told the story of David and Goliath, urging the athletes not to lose perspective on Goliath and consider him the unbeatable obstacle that stories over time have presented.
For the sixth consecutive year, the event presented the Otis Reeves Outstanding Coaches Award. The initial award went in 2021 to the retiring Reeves, who had spearheaded the first 34 banquets and had coached most of the sports provided by the Prattville YMCA over his 49-year coaching career.
Prattville girls’ basketball coach Erica DuBois received the award.
The T.O. McDowell Christian Leadership Award was presented to Prattville Christian Academy’s Marion Lewis. The award was initiated in 2008 to recognize an athlete who has displayed servant leadership through the YMCA and community activities.
For the 19th year, schools selected up to five student-athletes for the YMCA-FCA Christian Leadership Circle. The selections included:
Autauga Academy -- Aubrey Carter, Logan Dunaway, Ford Hallman, Kameron Seamon and Westin Ware.
Billingsley High School – Shelby Boice, Trent Cobern, Avry Coburn, Lane Plott and Camia Sheppard.
Marbury High School – Marrell Hollon, James Ninesling, Jacob Rawlinson, Kaidence Seamon and Shay Sheridan.
Prattville High School -- Tucker Edfeldt, Dorsett Jackson, Jake McConnell, KeLeigh Mullins and Lanieya Page.
Prattville Christian Academy – Jack Diefenderfer, James Little, Brysen Pugh, Tillman Simpson and Aiden Williams.