HARVEST- Dedication to athletics and what surrounds a sport has always been the forte of Sparkman sophomore Audrey Edwards. Once a softball player, she turned to soccer after she felt the energetic sport was what she wanted for the rest of her life. She looks to athletics as a great way to grow spiritually, mentally and physically. She also understands those around an athletic program make a huge impact in the particular sport.

The football program at Sparkman High depends on numerous aspects of the student body to excel as the state’s fourth largest high school. Some who assist on an everyday basis are the team managers. Three friends, all sophomores, lead the team managers and do the little things that mean a lot.

Edwards, Mary Butler and Jenna Sanderson chose to assist the football team after the insistence of assistant coach Ronnie Watson. Edwards knows athletics as she’s a member of the Senators’ soccer team where she plays goalkeeper. She also plays a similar position on the North Alabama Soccer Club (NASC).

“I feel like I help my soccer teams each time I step onto the field and being in goal I feel like I’m in control and have the feeling of all my stress goes away,” said Edwards. “I became a keeper at age nine. I moved up to the varsity squad as a freshman and will fight it out with two others on the team for the starting keeper position next spring.”

Her acceptance of being counted on in goal has carried over to her behind the scenes duties as a team manager for the Class 7-A Senators. Each day she and her friends are assigned duties, some of which have had to be learned on the job. From handling team equipment, water for the players and coaches and the electronic gear for video-taping of both practices and games, the duties seem to be endless. Edwards added, “I’ve stepped up to increase my responsibilities as I love what I do.”

“My early sports in general has led me to what I’m doing,” said Edwards, daughter of Dex and Kasey Edwards. “I’ve learned to stay involved through several injuries I’ve suffered. Those experiences have led me to think I’d like to attend college and earn a degree as either a physical therapist or a chiropractor.”

Away from the soccer field and the confines of the football field and field house, Edwards loves shopping and spending time with her friends. She’s also a painter and claimed the taking to a canvas has become a small hobby. She’s also taken time away from her busy schedule to volunteer at the Harvest Home, an agency for a food pantry for the needy.

In the classroom, Edwards takes numerous advanced classes and has a 3.8 grade point average.

Edwards is taller than most of the girls her age and is aggressive on the soccer field and said she was given the nickname “Bulldozer” when she first played soccer as she was known to bulldoze over players.

“I am very dedicated to my work as a team manager as my friends and I care about what we do and supporting our team,” said Edwards, 5-foot-7, 145-pounds. “But soccer is my life. I want to play soccer in college. I know I can. It’s what I want to do.”