Drew Merrow

Attitude and effort. This phrase from Coach Josh has been an encouragement in the good times and in the bad times. From the heartbreaking loss in the 2016 championship to the win the following year, this motto has defined the Force and has been the inspiration behind my game. I would like to thank Coach Josh for teaching us to always control our attitude and effort, the only two things we can always control. It has been these values that have led to my favorite moments of my basketball career: winning the Force defensive MVP award my junior year and accomplishing every player’s dream in hitting the go-ahead shot in the state championship. Thank you Coach Josh for all the sacrifices you have made and for all the time you have put into this team. I would also like to thank my parents for investing many hours into the Force so that I could play basketball. Many people have contributed to my basketball career throughout the years, and I am thankful to all of them. I have really enjoyed my time on the Force, and I am thankful to Coach, my parents, and my teammates for making all this possible.
My favorite Bible passage is Romans 14:3-4, “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” This passage shows how we may not always be of the same mind, but we are all united as God’s people. Many times throughout my years on the Force we have not been of the same mind. However, when we humbled ourselves and united as a team, we have been successful. I am most thankful for this gracious opportunity I have had to come together with this team to accomplish a common goal.
As I complete my senior year, I am excited to attend LA Tech this fall to study cyber engineering and am looking forward to the years to come.

Sam Wolfe

I am the oldest of five children, but I am the favorite.

My favorite bible verse is Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”

My favorite highlight of my 11 years of playing organized sports, I would have to say is between either winning the 2016-2017 ACEL state basketball state championship, winning the 2017 T-cal football state championship, or being named All State Defensive End and runner up All State Wide Receiver.

After graduation, I will attend Louisiana Tech and pursue a degree in Physical Education with plans to continue after my degree to specialize in Adapted P.E. so I can work with special needs students and athletes.

In no particular order I would like to thank my mom and my dad, for all the sacrifices they have made to make sure I had the best childhood possible and all the people who have helped me along the way to my last year of high school. I want to thank all of the coaches I’ve had throughout the years, who have all made an impact on the man I am today. I would like to thank Coach Shane Goodman and Coach Josh Garrett for giving me and the rest of the team their time, patience, and knowledge of the game of basketball, Y’all changed my mind about the game and made me fall in love with every part of it; the long practices, the conditioning practices at the track, the seemingly endless suicides, the wins, losses, lessons, and everything in between. I owe every accomplishment I have in this sport to you both.