MADISON- Success is the one definition which can be used for the athletic history of Emmy Mattingly. The senior at James Clemens recently signed an athletic scholarship to attend Trevecca Nazarene located in Nashville, Tenn.

Mattingly fittingly earned her scholarship through hard work over many years of efforts. She competed for the Jets’ cross country program for six years and improved her overall times by four and a half minutes while being chosen as team captain in her senior year. “It was my junior season where I figured out I could run in college and had chance at a scholarship,” said Mattingly, who has a 3.8 grade point average and is possibly looking at studying business-marketing in college. “My junior season is where I broke through.”

“She always gave her best and did what was asked of her,” said Drew Bell, head coach of the James Clemens track program. “She had patience and was always willing to help the younger girls on the team.”

The purple and white Trevecca Nazarene Trojans participate in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference as part of the NCAA Div. II competition. Mattingly is expected will take part in both the cross country and track programs. She most likely will take on the mile and 5K events as part of the Trojans’ track team.

Mattingly helped the Lady Jets finished sixth in the Cross Country State Meet by posting a state meet time of 21:27.26. Her overall personal best time is 20:17.

“I took up the sport after my mother asked me if I would like to run while I was in the seventh grade as my two older siblings were running,” said Mattingly, daughter to Charles and Beth Mattingly. “As I got farther in my running career I thought I could possibly run in college. I’m excited to run in college and I’m ready to move to the next step in my running career.”