The Mansfield Rising Star Awards are given to one male and one female freshman that have demonstrated outstanding qualities related to athletic ability, leadership, and character.
It’s an award established by the Mansfield coaches as a means to motivate up and coming players to continue the skills and attitude necessary for Tiger athletics.
Nominations and a rigorous ranking system established several top tier candidates in this year’s freshmen class. Through that in depth process, this year’s winners were announced as Natalie Allison and Clint Stovall.
Allison, this year’s female rising star, excelled in nearly every possible sport offered at Mansfield. She made contributions to golf, volleyball, basketball, indoor track, outdoor track, softball, and cheer.
Along with shuffling practice and athletic competition sometimes within the same seasons, this player also navigated a strong academic course load.
No doubt team accomplishments of all the programs of which Allison was associated with, benefited from her play. She made high level athletic contributions, offered exemplary leadership skills, and gave unwavering focus to each task at hand.
According to several of her coaches, a very strong list of worthy players fit this same mode. What set Allison apart, according to those same sources, was that this freshman athlete demonstrated the type of self-confidence, responsibility, and a positive attitude towards practice to give her the edge for this year’s Female Freshman Rising Star award.
Stovall, this year’s male rising star, was a player that made an impact from the moment he started athletics in the 7th grade. According to his football coach he had an incredible sports IQ and worked and played at a high level.
He started every game that he was physically able to play in football. He played a variety of positions and could be trusted with any task.
In the classroom, Stovall represented himself quite well. His current academic status in the freshman class ranks number one. As his basketball coach described it, Stovall has proven that you can be a champion in athletics as well as in academics.
Stovall was a 2 year starter on the junior high boys basketball team. He was characterized as a true shooting guard in every sense of the word. His big game moments proved he was money from mid range and clutch in close games.
As an 8th grader, he knocked down a three point shot that gave Mansfield the edge in the last seconds of the junior high district basketball tournament semi final game. He did it again this year as a 9th grader with a last second three pointer against Lincoln.
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