--moved to archive December 19, 2006
MARK KENNEDY
Mark Kennedy has led the resurgence of the Cresset men’s soccer program during the past three years. Perhaps there is no one better fitting to have led this building process than Mark whose father, Charles Kennedy, is an alumnus of Cresset, and whose brother, Adam, played on Cresset’s 2002 TAC Conference Tournament Champion basketball team. During the past two years the Eagles have advanced to the NCISAA State Tournament, finishing in the elite eight in 2005. This year finds the Eagles making another appearance in the tournament as the number ten seed facing number seven seed, Flora Macdonald, tomorrow. These back-to-back-to-back NCISAA state appearances are the first ever for Cresset’s soccer team, and Mark’s commitment and resolve have been a major reason for the Eagle’s success.
Mark’s dedication has been infectious during these three seasons as the Eagles soccer program moved from obscurity with several sub-five hundred seasons, to prominence as one of the well respected programs in the state. Dr. Bollinger, Cresset’s coach, recently stated, “Mark has been my most dependable consistent player and he has demonstrated a great deal of leadership for the rest of the team. With his hard work over the past three years, he has made a significant improvement in his soccer skills which have contributed to our success.”
Mark is the consummate student-athlete who excels in class, is a behavioral role model, and who also finds time to contribute in a major way to Cresset athletics. Mrs. Bennett, Cresset’s seniors' English teacher, stated the ultimate compliment regarding Mark, “Discretion is the better part of valor.” This quote succinctly describes the faculty’s high regard for Mark. Mark is a young man who possesses wisdom beyond his years and is well known for his steadiness and spiritual maturity.
In addition to soccer, Mark is also involved in several other campus activities and has made a huge contribution to the Praise Team and chapel week after week with his audio-visual expertise. Mark also has played basketball at Cresset.
Mark’s advice to his peers: “Work hard all the way through school. Don’t be content to be in a 'catch-up mode'."
Favorite food: Filet mignon
Favorite book: Wild at Heart
Favorite musician: Chris Tomlin
Person most admired: Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, Mark’s parents
Career Ambition: Pharmacy or Business
Favorite College: University of Tennessee
Favorite Verse: Psalm 68:20, “Our God is a God who saves; from a sovereign Lord comes escape from death.”
Mark is the son of Charles and Kim Kennedy and has one sibling, Adam, who is a senior at Elon University.
--moved to archive October 19, 2006
CRESSET CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
WILL HAWKINS
Will Hawkins has attended Cresset for twelve years. Last year as a junior, Will, a point guard, was a starter on Cresset’s CCC Conference Championship and NCISAA State Tournament Quarter Finalist men’s basketball team. In addition to basketball, Will was a key player on Cresset’s soccer team which also went to the quarterfinals during his junior year.
This year Will, a sweeper, has helped lead the Eagles’ soccer team to its current second place position in the North Division of the CCC. Will is extremely focused and intense during each soccer game. He has a quiet leadership style which lets his actions through his play speak to those around him. According to his soccer coach, Dr. Steve Bollinger, “Will anchors our defense as a sweeper. We would really struggle with out his strong play.”
Will’s athletic goals for this year include helping Cresset’s soccer and basketball teams to become increasingly competitive when playing against the higher echelon teams in the state; to enable Cresset to be in the position to win at the end of tough games. Will is certainly able to act as a catalyst for his team. When asked about his leadership ability, Will's basketball coach, Sammy Hatchell, commented, "Will is well liked by his teammates. I love his work ethic. He makes a conscious effort to improve his skills and ability."
Academically, in addition to a heavy load at Cresset, Will has taken courses at Durham Technical Community College during his junior and senior year at Cresset to help broaden his academic preparedness for college.
Will’s advice to his peers: “Listen to your parents."
Some of Will’s favorites include the following:
Favorite food: Spaghetti
Favorite book: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Music: Shawn McDonald
Person most admired: Father, Mr. John Hawkins
Career ambition: Business
Favorite college: Wichita State University
Favorite verse of the Bible: Joshua 1:7-8 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law Depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (NIV)
Will is the son of John and Janet Hawkins and has two siblings, Gary, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Laura, a teacher in Kansas.
Note: This is the first in a series of profiles of our senior student-athletes. Check back each week for additional articles.