HAVANA, Fl. (WTXL) - Gadsden County High School - a new school, a new team, and a chance to leave a mark on Gadsden County athletics.
"There was a lot of good athletes at West Gadsden, and a lot at East Gadsden," said Marquise Sailor of the excitement to merge the two high schools. "I thought we could come together and make unity, and play together as a family, we could have a pretty good team."
Come together they did, and senior lineman Sailor, a big reason why.
"Right when I walked on campus he was the first kid that I met actually," said Gadsden County head football coach Joey Striplin, who coached at West Gadsden before the merger. He's very well spoken kid, well mannered. It was that first day we were in the weight room and he works hard. It's just been great having him for his senior year. I'm lucky hat I was able to coach him for his senior year."
"I just tell everybody we can make it happen," added Sailor, who went to East Gadsden. "It's teamwork, it's family. All the boys, they're my family, we can do it together. Can't ever give up."
Sailor takes the never give up attitude into the classroom, where he boasts a 3.8 GPA.
"Everybody comes around asking for help on homework," he laughed. "I help them out. My mother and my father, they inspire me. I'm doing my best. I got them on my mind, and I have to go make it for my mother and my father."
"He knows his goals. He knows what he wants to do," said Striplin. "It's just good to have a kid like that that's going to come to practice everyday, and is going to show up in the classroom. You don't have to worry about if he's in class. He does what he has to do in the classroom."
He is getting it done in the classroom, on the field, and helping to make this first season at Gadsden County one to remember for future Jaguars.
"Coming together as a team, playing together, making new brothers in my last year, it's been real fun."
Sailor said his plan is to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering in college.
