Zy’Kieria Edwards’ work ethic and leadership help make her a dominant two-sport athlete.
“She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve coached since I’ve been at Oglethorpe,” head girls track and field coach Tim Stoudenmire said. “Regardless of the sport, regardless of the sex, boys or girls wrestling or track.”
Although she never considered herself to be “very athletic,” Edwards started throwing the shot put and discus her freshman year. Her success has continued to this spring, her senior season.
“I went to state, placed third, only as a sophomore and was one of the farthest throws in our area,” Edwards said. “That made me pick the mindset in pushing myself a little harder at doing something that I actually like.”
And then, as a junior, some of her friends encouraged her to join the wrestling team.
She was a state qualifier that season and then finished fourth in Class A Division I this season.
“I see myself in a ring, pretty much me against myself,” Edwards said. “If I do bad, it's just me versus me, because ain’t nobody besides me to hold my hand.”
Stoudenmire praised her for her athleticism and commended her ability to be a leader.
“When she's in a role of leadership, she takes it very seriously,” he said. “She is a go-to person from a coaching standpoint to count on things being done as a leader of a team.”
Stoudenmire’s expectations are high for Edwards this track season. She was fifth in the shot in Class A Division I with a throw of 35-01 feet last spring after finishing third in Class AA in 2022.
“She has to, from my end, to lead our team to a state championship, to win an individual state championship herself,” Stoudenmire said. “She would be genuinely offended if I didn’t expect her to lead us to a championship, and I didn’t expect her to win a state championship.”
The same can be said for Edwards, who is not only aiming for an individual championship, but looking to etch herself in the school records.
“My goal for this year in track is to throw 40 feet, which will actually beat the school record,” Edwards said.
Stoudenmire is confident Edwards won’t squander her opportunity.
“A lot of kids, you put that pressure on them, and they crumble,” Stoudenmire said. “I mean, like a Walmart tent, they just fold up and she’s not like that.”