​Katrell Hurst
Sport: Football
 
Plans after high school: I am taking prerequisites for the Police Academy at Metropolitan Community Colleges.
 
Highlights of your career as a student athlete: My favorite highlight is summer conditioning. Coming from a Class 5 school (William Chrisman) to a Class 4 school, you’ll tend to snoot your nose at the school that you’re currently going to be attending because of how small it looks. When I stepped into Grain Valley’s locker room for the first time and started meeting the coaching staff, all I felt was energy in the locker room. It gave me the chills, and I then knew what Grain Valley football was all about. Grain Valley football works very hard during the summer. It’s extreme conditioning. I would say that if you put Grain Valley against any class 5 or higher class school, we will outwork them during summer conditioning. Sweat & tiredness to Grain Valley is like fresh blood to a shark. Grain Valley football enjoys sweating in the summer; it’s like a water park.
 
What was the biggest lesson you learned as a student athlete?
Some of the biggest lessons as a student athlete was “making my bed”, meaning do the little things so that you could be successful because the little things do count in the long run.
 
Thank You:
I would like to say thank you to the entire coaching staff for such a welcoming environment, but I wanted to give a special thank you to Coach Carpino. I’m pretty sure he’s been called lots of names due to the fact that he doesn’t let you quit, and he doesn’t let you make excuses. Many people don’t see that, although it should enlighten some people. Coach Carpino pays attention to everything, and he will call you out if you’re not doing something right. I just wanted to thank him because he taught me many life skills, such as not making excuses for your 50% effort. This isn’t just for sports, it’s a lifestyle.
 

​Michael Sanchez
 
Sport(s): Football and Track
 
Plans after high school: Planning to attend community college for sports medicine.
 
Highlights of your career as a student athlete: When we beat Harrisonville for the district championship as seniors. It was amazing because we lost to them my freshman year and that hurt.
 
What was the biggest lesson you learned as a student athlete?
Accountability, responsibility, and public speaking when I prayed before every team meal.
 
Thank You:
I want to thank all my coaches for making me into the person I am, but especially Coach Stone. He helped me in the post season when I went to combines, and I would not have been there competing without his help.