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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Westminster-Oak Mountain’s Payton Metcalf (3) sends the ball over the net during a Class 1A state tournament match against Athens Bible School in October at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
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Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Christian Ferguson (3) carries the ball during a Class 5A first round playoff game against Marbury in November in Birmingham.
Two local athletes were honored as scholar-athletes and winners of the Bryant-Jordan award.
The Bryant-Jordan student-athlete program was started in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame with the Alabama High School Athletic Association to recognize Alabama student-athletes who excel in the classroom and athletics.
In 1989, the achievement award was created. The award is in the same spirit, recognizing student-athletes who do well and strive to be the best in the classroom and during athletics while overcoming adversity.
Ninety-six scholarships worth more than $800,000 are awarded annually to Alabama student-athletes.
Payton Metcalf earned the scholar-athlete award in Class 1A, Region 4. Metcalf was the captain of the Westminster School at Oak Mountain volleyball team and was the team’s setter. The Lady Knights advanced to the 1A state tournament in October. She also competes in track and field in the 60-, 100- and 300-meter hurdles, the 60, 100 and 200 runs and some relay events.
Coming from a military family, Metcalf said her work ethic is what helps her stay on top of academics and athletics successfully.
“My approach in academics is reflective of what I’ve learned from being in a military family,” she said. “I desire to get the best out of my work, but with multiple extracurricular activities, time is hard to come by. When I manage to find time to do my assignments, I work diligently to complete them and achieve quality work in the time allotted. While grades are important to an extent, I find that what I learn is most important in providing a foundation for my development as a young woman.”
Metcalf said she hopes the committee who picked her to win the regional scholar-athlete award recognized character during the selection process.
“While I think success is important, character and sportsmanship speak volumes,” she said.
Briarwood’s Christian Ferguson won the Class 5A, Region 4 achievement award. Ferguson played football, as the team’s fullback and pass-rush specialist, and baseball, as the team’s designated hitter.
Ferguson said a tragic accident during his childhood molded him into the man he is today and taught him to work hard.
“When I was 5 years old, my brother Sam passed away in a tragic accident in my backyard,” he said. “Sam was two years older than me and my best friend on the planet. I’ve struggled with this loss my entire life, but one thing it’s taught me is that life is a blessing. We have to cherish every day because you never know how many more you will have, and personally, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I know that the best way to use my time is to spend it by honoring God. I honor God by using the gifts that he has blessed me with and performing to the best of my ability, regardless of the environment.”
Through the struggles Ferguson has faced, he understands the importance of getting a good education and balancing academics with athletics.
“Academic excellence means everything to me,” he said. “No matter what level you reach, sports will come to an end for everybody one day. My parents have taught me this, so from a young age, I have placed a large importance on performing well in my academic life. I’ve worked as hard as possible and receiving recognition for that hard work is very rewarding.”
The regional, class and overall winners of the Bryant-Jordan scholarships were recognized at the 35th annual Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet and Ceremony, which was held April 13 via an online broadcast.
