Spring sports senior profiles, an ongoing series

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.

Ridgeview track’s Madison Yates

Seventeen-year-old Madison Yates started out playing basketball and softball in little league, but branched over to the track team while at Ridgeview. She has also danced competitively since age five.

Yates has chosen not to continue her track career in college as she will be pursing a degree in nursing.

Knowing that March 13 was the last day she would walk the halls of Ridgeview and still not knowing the fate of her final season of track has been heartbreaking for Yates.

“It took a few days to sink in,” Yates said. “This definitely wasn’t the way I envisioned my senior track season (might) end. Although I try to stay strong and positive, some days are harder than others.”

Yates has had a very successful career running with the ‘Pack. In her freshman, sophomore and junior years, she set new school records including 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles. Last year, Yates placed second in the 100-meter hurdles, won the 300-meter hurdles and was the third highest scoring female athlete at the regional track meet. She looks forward to the possibility of an abbreviated track season.

“I am hopeful of getting in the blocks and jumping the hurdles one last time,” Yates said. “I want to jump in the pits, pass the baton to my friends as we sprint to the finish line, go to my senior prom and walk in front of my family and friends to receive my diploma that I’ve worked so hard for. I know God has a plan for my continued journey, though.”

Yates leaves a message of living in the present to her fellow teammates.

“Enjoy every moment as if it’s your last and never take anything for granted,” Yates said.

Ridgeview baseball’s Brody Counts

Brody Counts, 17, plays basketball, baseball and runs cross-country for the Wolfpack. Growing up, he also played football.

Counts will continue his academic career at Mountain Empire Community College for two years. Then, he will transfer to a four-year university and major in science.

Counts describes himself as “upset” that his senior year came to an early end. He holds on to hope for final baseball season.

“Senior year is supposed to be the best year in high school. Everyone is so excited to be a senior and for it to be taken away is very sad,” Counts said. “Knowing that we still may get to play sports raises my hopes up for what is going on in the world right now.”

Counts leaves the following message to his teammates: “Always work hard and never take anything for granted, because you will never know if something like this will happen.”