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Shatley, Ford North Carolina male, female athletes of the year

Photo collage by Rebecca Evans | The News Herald

Freedom High’s Ali Ford, left; and East Burke High’s Tyler Shatley

By Matt Collins | The News Herald

Published: May 7, 2009

Updated: 05/07/2009 11:50 pm

Revisit when The News Herald named Shatley best male athlete of 2008, Ford best female athlete in Burke on Jan. 1, 2009.

Here is the press release from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association regarding Ford and Shatley.

Chapel Hill — This is big.
East Burke High's Tyler Shatley and Freedom High's Ali Ford were named the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's Male and Female Athletes of the Year at a ceremony on Thursday at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
"I think it's safe to say I don't believe it's ever happened. What a tremendous thing," NCHSAA Executive Director Charlie Adams said about the male and female athletes of the year being from the same county.
Other athletes received awards at the ceremony, but these were "two of the biggest we give out," Associate Executive Director Rick Strunk said. Shatley and Ford were given standing ovations as they approached the stage when their names were called.
Shatley — who has a 4.5-weighted grade-point average — plays football, wrestling and participates in the shot put and discus events of track and field. He signed with Clemson University to play football.
Among many other achievements, he is a two-time Northwestern 4A Conference wrestling champion and finished second in the state in the heavyweight division. He also is the defending state champion in the shot put event. Shatley signs with the Clemson Tigers, from Feb. 4, 2009
Ford plays basketball, softball, golf and also ran track and cross country, and played tennis. She signed to play basketball at Elon University. Ford signs with the Elon Phoenix, from Nov. 20, 2008
Her list of accolades is more than a mile long. To name a few, she has won 18 varsity letters, 12 all-conference awards and was the NW4A girls basketball player of the year this past season.
"I feel really grateful for this," Ford said. "This gives me a sense of accomplishment. Sports have always meant something to me, now this makes all the late nights and extra practices worth it."
"This is something she can be proud of," Freedom girls basketball coach Amber Fox said. "This is a great cap to an unbelievable career. She's always been known for basketball. It's a real testament to her achievements to be recognized for the other sports (she plays)."
Fox said Ford brings a competitive spirit to every game and "most definitely" will succeed in college sports.
"Because of her work ethic — both academically and athletically — she'll be a star at the next level. I've never been prouder of a kid. I think she's destined for great things."
Shatley's track-and-field coach, Odell Williams, and football coach, Mike Biggerstaff, also had kind things to say about their star athlete.
"This is just a blessing," Williams said. "This is true to his character. This culminates all of his hard work. He has worked extremely hard because he doesn't want to lose. He does everything right. (He) studies hard, works hard. He always brings his absolute best. He doesn't want to do just enough to win, he wants to be the best." Looking through the eye of a Tiger, from Nov. 29, 2008
"He's an outstanding young man," Biggerstaff said. "He's a special person. Reaching this is the icing on the cake. I just can't put it into words. Everybody around him is amazed at his work ethic."
Biggerstaff said, "He has a level of competitiveness that's unique. He always rises to the occasion. He made us better in his presence. We're going to miss him as much in school as in athletics.
"He'll make it in whatever he wants to do."