Due to the current coronavirus situation and all sports being shut down, there are a lot of athletes who have had their senior seasons cut short. ENC Sports Review thought it would be nice to highlight some of these seniors as a small way to celebrate their senior year, since so much has been taken from them already. Today, we will highlight Rocky Mount High School Senior Connor Powell. We thank Connor for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about her and hope you will too!
How long have you been playing sports?
I’ve been playing baseball since I was three years old.
What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)
Pepsi Braves(now Chambliss & Rabil), Edwards Middle School, Rocky Mount High School, and with the Dirtbags travel ball organization.
The award was established to honor the memory of Mr. Melvin Newell, a postman who was tragically killed in an accident while on the job. Mr. Newell was a Little League coach as well as a youth leader in many other ways in the community. He was active in his church and community, and tried to teach and instill in each of his players the qualities of sportsmanship, loyalty, integrity, fair play and Christian ideals.” (Source: Rocky Mount Chamber Website)***
Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?
My favorite coach is easily Axel Smith. The biggest lesson he taught me was that “You gotta always go hard on and off the field, not for me but for your family and most importantly yourself.”
What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?
My favorite memory was the 1-0 win over West Carteret in last years playoffs. Then my least favorite memory was walking off the field against riverside not knowing it’d be my last high school baseball game
What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?
For me I wouldn’t change a thing, All these years playing the game has been a heck of a ride and I’m privileged to say I’ve got 4 more in Charlotte.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
I look up to my dad, Ivey Powell. He has spent countless hours on the field and in the cage to try and help me achieve my goals. Definitely a big role model in my life.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?
If I could go back 5 years to tell myself something it’d be pretty simple. Just go out on that field and play as hard as you can, opportunities and results will quickly follow.
What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?
I would tell them that they should never take any practice or game for granted. Baseball is a great game and I hope no one who is involved with it ever loses sight of that.
If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
I will definitely remember the relationship I have with my best friend Ben Sieracki. Ben and I both have been going at it on the diamond since 2nd grade and these last 4 years with him at RM have been such an experience. Every time I step foot on that field I always find myself smiling out in center field thinking about how far both of us have come.
Feel free to add anything that I might not have asked that people would like to know about your time playing sports or your future plans.
Rocky Mount, it’s been a pleasure to call you home and to play the best game in the world on fields all in your city. This city, coaches, and teammates have molded me into the person I am today and I am so grateful for the opportunity to go play baseball at Belmont Abbey!
Thank you again, Connor Powell , for taking the time to be one of our 2020 senior spotlights. We wish you well on all of your future endeavors.
Attention 2020 Seniors: If you are interested in possibly being our next spotlight, please inbox us with a picture of you (head shot or action shot, or multiple pictures), your name, school, sports/positions played and answers to some or all of the questions above.
Note: All photographs have been contributed to this post from the senior’s family.
***https://web.rockymountchamber.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=6278
ENC Sports Review 