September - St. Augustine Catholic

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B y A m e l i a E u d y His senior year was supposed to be the best one of his high school career – a key player on the football team playing defensive end, tight end and offensive tackle, and a dedicated member of the basketball team. But when 18-year-old Bishop John Snyder High School graduate Shawn Schmieder broke his foot during practice early in the football season (in 2006) it abruptly ended his senior football season and prevented him from playing basketball at all. The snap he heard at practice turned out to be a Jones fracture, an injury notorious for bringing down many pro athletes. “It had to be the perfect amount of pressure on an exact spot,” Shawn says, shortly after graduating in May. Shawn’s sports injury, however disappointing, taught him more about faith and sacrifice and a few lessons about life. Shawn, an honor student, who graduated with a weighted 4.4 GPA and was named class salutatorian, doesn’t consider himself a smart person. But this accomplishment earned him the honor of speaking at his commencement celebration on May 17, and he chose to share his life-as-a-student-athlete story. “We all make plans for our lives,” Shawn said in his graduation speech, “sometimes 24 St. Augustine Catholic September 2007
they pan out and sometimes they don’t.” But he realized how lucky he is. Following his injury, Shawn was treated at a clinic where other patients had a wide array of injuries, some of them permanent. “I saw many people who were crippled for life, including a man holding his own prosthetic leg,” Shawn said to his fellow classmates. “At that moment I realized how good God was to me.” It was because of his faith in God that Shawn realized he would make it through what seemed like his “ruined senior year.” He would make the best of what he had been given, not focus on what had been taken away. “I relied on God a lot. He was the base of all my success. I knew I couldn’t do anything without him.” me that,” Shawn says. Balance, he notes, is vital for every student athlete as they juggle daily practices and games, school, homework, family, friends, church, jobs and other interests. Because he had many other examples of good faith during his four years at Bishop Snyder and because of his own challenges, Shawn wanted his graduating class to know St. Joseph Academy Steve Binninger signed a letter of agreement to play tennis for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla. Jennifer Cuevas signed an agreement to play softball for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla. Caleigh Hodgkins signed an athletic letter of intent to play women’s soccer for Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. Courtney Miles signed a letter of agreement to play volleyball for St. John’s River Community College. She will how important faith should be in their lives. For him, challenges in sports had become lessons for life. “Don’t forget what you learned here (at Bishop Snyder) and never lose your faith in God,” Shawn urged his classmates. “Whatever life brings to you make the best of it; and if life kicks you in the dirt …you just get right back up,” he said, using some old coaching advice. The St. Augustine Catholic magazine congratulates the athletes of the Class of 2007, especially the following sports stars that have received athletic scholarships: SaLydia James received a track athletic grant-in-aid to the University of North Florida. Alexander Mathis received a football scholarship to Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. Emily Meyer received a softball athletic scholarship to Pasco-Hernando Community College. Emily Saltmarsh received a tennis athletic scholarship to Florida Community College, Jacksonville. Caitlin Smith received a volleyball athletic scholarship to St. Thomas University in Miami. Shawn Schmieder Shawn has turned his attention to the future and wants to use the gifts he has been given. “I’m going to continue to stick with God,” he says honestly. “I’m going to college; it’s a big university. It’s great to have something to hold on to – someone always looking after you.” Shawn headed to the University of Florida in June on a Bright Future Scholarship with plans to try out for the football team and possibly pursue a career in the medical field. Sports taught him to be tough and stand up to adversity. “In this world you have no time to feel sorry for yourself,” Shawn says. You have to keep going.” His family: father, George; mother, Mary; sisters, Katie, 16; Mary Grace, 11; and Christa, 10, who belong to Sacred Heart Parish in Jacksonville, have always been a great influence on him. “[My dad] lives his life with balance. He says that’s the key to everything. He taught also receive an academic scholarship including books, tuition, living stipend and fees for 36 credit hours. Bishop John Snyder High School Kristina Beck signed an agreement for a full gymnastics scholarship from Penn State University in Pennsylvania. Kristina is the first Division 1 signee in school history. Bishop Kenny High School Lauren Anastase received a volleyball athletic scholarship from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. Megan Bacher received a track athletic scholarship from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Michael Basford received a football athletic scholarship from the United States Naval Academy. Michael Stukel received a football athletic scholarship to Georgia Southern University, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy and Wofford College. Daniel Vargas Villa of St. Joseph Academy, signed a letter of intent from Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala. to play baseball. He will receive a full scholarship for two years, including out-of-state tuition and fees. Kyle Teeter received a track athletic scholarship to Samford University and the University of Florida. Chelsea Wilhoite received a volleyball athletic scholarship to the University of West Florida. St. Augustine Catholic September 2007 25
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