Hometown Heroes: Three Handley Athletes Breaking Records

What happens when three record-breaking high school athletes gather to share their journeys? Pure inspiration.

Brothers With Opinions welcomes Emeryce Worrell, Rylan Stribling, and Hassan Akanbi – three extraordinary talents from John Handey High School who are redefining athletic excellence in their community and beyond.

 Emeryce, now attending the prestigious University of Virginia, reveals how she captured five state track championships while simultaneously leading Handley's soccer team to their first-ever state title. With 104 career soccer goals and multiple athletic honors, she discusses the challenges of having "a target on her back" during senior year and how she maintained her focus despite mounting pressure.

Meanwhile, Rylan Stibling, described by hosts as having Olympic potential, shares insights into his training mentality and remarkable track accomplishments. Currently a Handley senior, he's already shattered school records and earned recognition as potentially the school's greatest track athlete ever. His humility shines through as he discusses drawing inspiration from both global icons like Usain Bolt and upperclassmen who blazed trails before him.

The conversation takes an exciting turn when Hassan Akanbi reveals he's already secured a starting running back position as a freshman at Lackawanna College, which recently moved up to Division II competition. His candid reflections on overcoming academic struggles and football injuries demonstrate remarkable resilience and growth.

Throughout the episode, these young stars discuss balancing academics with athletics, defining "Handley Pride," and the profound influence of parents and mentors. Their advice to younger athletes – avoiding comparisons, maintaining mental strength through setbacks, and seeking support when needed – offers wisdom beyond their years.

Ready for a dose of motivation from the next generation of sports stars? This episode captures the passion, perseverance and perspective that transforms talented teenagers into exceptional athletes and individuals. Subscribe now to follow these remarkable journeys and join the conversation!

Transcript

Introduction to Hanley's Star Athletes

Speaker 1 0:00

World thinks we're hard cause. We've been blinded by ignorance. Man, man, dm, known to progress it's a hindrance. Silence is cassette. So let your voices be heard, man, we brothers with opinions.

Speaker 2 0:11

Now we spreading the word, bringing light to the dark Revolution is our art man. A lot of people. Yo yo yo.

Speaker 3 0:19

What's up? What's up we here? What's up, chris man? I'm trying to keep up pace with all these young superstar athletes. Y'all got on tonight.

Speaker 2 0:31

Oh.

Speaker 3 0:32

I heard BWO bringing it.

Speaker 2 0:34

We're bringing that fire tonight. That's what we're doing.

Speaker 3 0:37

That fire, that smoke, all three of these people about to bring that smoke to anybody that comes around them on that Athletic fields and tracks that they play.

Speaker 2 0:47

So everybody, welcome back to Brothers with Opinions with me and Chris Tucker. We're about ready to have on Emerus Whirl, hassan Akambi and Rylan Strudley all star athletes from Hanley.

Speaker 4 0:59

Superstar athletes.

Speaker 2 1:00

Very excited about this episode. I hear a lot of people they're going to tune in, enjoy it. I'm waiting for Rylan and all them to uh, let's see, I'm ready to get them on right now. Hey man, let's just jump right into this. They waiting you ready.

Speaker 3 1:17

Yeah, especially because Hassan got football practice.

Speaker 2 1:22

Yeah, Hassan's got football practice.

Speaker 3 1:25

That's how dedicated people are when you want to do something, you bout it. Hasan's going to jump on with this real quick. And then he got to run the football practice. Hopefully he's as fast as Emerson Rylan, because he need to get over there, right, right, yeah, but we know from his football yardage that he is.

Speaker 2 1:48

Oh see, we waiting for Hassan right now. All right, let's add him in here One by one. No, add all of them. I got it. I got it. Hey, how are you guys doing? You hear me?

Speaker 4 1:59

Yes, I can hear you.

Speaker 2 2:01

Okay, good, good. How are you doing, Emerus?

Speaker 4 2:04

Good, how are you here?

Speaker 2 2:05

it can hear you. Okay, good, good, how are you doing, emerus? Good, how are you here? It's Rylan, you there, rylan, he's there, we're getting here, rylan. I'm good, emerus, I'm sorry I didn't answer your question.

Speaker 3 2:19

We're waiting for Hasan Rylan's probably so fast he can't hear you.

Speaker 2 2:27

Rylan, we can't hear you. Hello, there you go, there you go. Hi, hey, how are you?

Speaker 1 2:36

Wait, can you hear me now?

Speaker 2 2:38

Yeah, we can hear you now.

Speaker 3 2:41

Yeah, and Hassan.

Speaker 2 2:43

Hassan, I think he's having trouble. He'll jump in. We'll see if he can get in there, but we can get started with Rylan and Emrys. Welcome to BWL. Brothers with Opinions and we want to give you guys the flowers, already being young superstars. I know, rylan, you're still with Hanley and Emrys you're going to correct. Yes, so she had to get that. Chris Brown on Auburn and, uh, emerus you're going to. Uba correct. Yes, yeah, so uh, she had to get that.

Speaker 3 3:08

Chris Brown on Auburn Deuces.

Speaker 2 3:15

So let's start with, uh, I guess whoever wants to, I guess ladies first. So uh, emerus, um, can you tell bit about like your journey through high school? You know athletics and like that, yeah.

Speaker 3 3:31

And you don't have to be too modest. Like we went to school with your dad, you graduated with Tony.

Speaker 2 3:36

I did graduate with your dad.

Speaker 3 3:39

And your older sister played in the Hoops for Hope event before, because she's a legend. But look, you have shattered records, and not only track and field but soccer, and that's amazing. Just one sport is amazing. But you need to be proud of yourself and, and Bo, stick your chest out right now, just because we're brothers. Trust me, it's all about the ladies too, and what you've done is amazing and we're proud of you and we're excited to have you on thank you.

Speaker 4 4:05

Yeah, I'm excited to be here. Um, my high school journey was was really good. It was really fun, um obviously really successful. Um started off playing basketball and soccer in high school and outdoor track my freshman year. I thought I was going to play basketball all four years but I ended up seeing my brother and Liz Emo and they really enjoyed indoor track and so that's when I decided to join it. My sophomore year and I think my sophomore year is probably when I started seeing a little bit of success both in track and soccer I mean I made varsity.

Speaker 2 4:43

My freshman year, both in track and soccer, I mean I made varsity my freshman year, but I that's amazing Like well, I made varsity my freshman year.

Speaker 3 4:51

Well, back in our day, the coach wouldn't let us. But that's amazing, that's dope.

Speaker 4 4:56

Thank you. Yeah, my sophomore year is kind of when I started making my mark. I think that's when I ran my all-time best in track and outdoor and then I became the leading scorer for my team in that season for soccer, and I think I got runner-up in both of my events in indoor track. So that was exciting. And then junior year is kind of when everything just blew up because I won three state titles in my indoor meet. You won how many Three state titles?

Speaker 3 5:31

Y'all know what she said.

Speaker 2 5:32

She said three and I'll tell you what you blew up is that powder puff game? Oh, powderpuff. And maybe Hassan. I was like who is that girl out there running all over everyone? Yeah.

Speaker 4 5:48

Powderpuff is a whole other story. I wish that it was like an actual well, like a bowling record. But yeah, it might be something I have to pursue. But yeah, and then I won Athlete of the Year, both sophomore year and senior year, and now senior year, and now senior year. I just, I think I continued. I won two more state titles in indoor track and then I did get to participate in outdoor, but I won regional player of the year for soccer and made the all-state team. So it was a good four years.

Speaker 2 6:23

Awesome, awesome.

Speaker 3 6:26

Tony, you might not understand what she said because she didn't say she went to states and she watched them. She said she made three first teams.

Speaker 2 6:34

Do you know what she's trying to tell you?

Speaker 3 6:36

right now, All the greats that we know you're probably the best.

Speaker 2 6:41

I don't know, you got Ryland and Hassan there right. I'm talking about women. I'm talking about the Leo Donalds and Stacey.

Speaker 3 6:47

Dawson's and everybody else. This young lady might be the best.

Speaker 2 6:52

Well, Rylan, you're next. We'll have to wait. Hassan, you'll have to wait.

Speaker 3 6:54

You haven't taken the difficulty, no no, we got to get Hassan on there.

Speaker 2 7:07

I got to go to Go to football practice, yeah, so go ahead. Rylan Introduce yourself.

Speaker 1 7:11

Can't hear you, Rylan.

Speaker 2 7:12

Can you hear me now, yep.

Rylan and Hassan Join the Conversation

Speaker 1 7:12

Yes, all right, I'm going to have to hold my phone like this. I'm a current senior at John Hanley High School. My name is Rylan Stripling. I currently am just full-time track now. So, yeah, no football this season. No, I'm not playing football.

Speaker 3 7:23

Name's rylan stripling. I currently am just full-time track now, so yeah, no, no football no, I'm not playing football this year he said my boy hassan finished, I ain't playing yeah, so what are you concentrating on?

Speaker 2 7:37

uh, being an olympic runner, because you're killing it out there too, setting records yeah, that's.

Speaker 1 7:42

That's ultimately the goal at the end of it all.

Speaker 3 7:45

I'm going to be honest. I've told friends already and I've never met you. I don't know anything except for you're an amazing track athlete and I wish you the best in everything. But I tell my friends already I'm like yo, this kid might go to the Olympics.

Speaker 1 8:00

Yeah, I hope that's the goal.

Speaker 3 8:02

No, that's amazing. You shattered all my best friends and their friends' records from back in the day. You shattered the records. Yeah, I've spoken to some athletes that's been Hall of Famers for Hanley and everything, and when I told them what you ran, they was like they couldn't even say an English word. Yeah, that's kind of hot.

Speaker 2 8:21

Yeah Well, you two seem like very humble kids. I got a few questions for you guys, if you'd love to answer them. So what do you believe was your greatest challenge as an athlete?

Speaker 1 8:39

Mine.

Speaker 2 8:39

Jump right in.

Speaker 1 8:41

Mine, I would say from track, would be false, starting from states Sophomore year because, like I worked so hard competing with athletes and training all year to get to states and finally, for the first time I was able to get to states for indoor and sadly I false started in the prelims. So my day was over quickly and just the challenge was just like the mental part of it all, just like knowing that I could still do this and like bounce back from it and me being able to overcome that and come back the next year and win it all. I say that's a great challenge that I overcame.

Speaker 2 9:19

Awesome. Go ahead, Nimris.

Speaker 4 9:23

My great challenge probably wasn't a specific event, but probably just my senior year kind of having that target on my back and having so high expectations for myself and having to build upon the legacy that I had built and making sure that I didn't settle or think that I was smooth sailing.

Speaker 2 9:47

Right, right. So, hassan, sit your bag. You hear us now, right, yeah, you're good.

Speaker 5 9:53

Oh, I thought I had to school. I had to connect to my cellular data.

Speaker 2 9:56

Well, go ahead first off and introduce yourself All right Tell us a little bit about yourself, your journey.

Speaker 5 10:04

Oh yeah, I'm Hassan Akavi. I went to Hanley. I us a little bit about yourself, your journey. Oh yeah, I'm Hasan Akavi, I went to Hanley. I'm a Hanley alumni. Now I'm currently at Lackawanna College playing football. I play running back Currently, starting right now too, so that's a blessing, but you say starting yeah, I'm starting, hold on You're starting in college.

Speaker 3 10:21

Yeah, and for those of you that don't know, I got super hyped a little bit ago because I saw that name and it said Jersey City and I'm like, oh, that's right there where my girl lives, I go there every day because Meech lives up here. Now it goes in the Bronx. I was hyped, but then I seen you're in Scranton, pennsylvania, right?

Speaker 5 10:40

Yeah, correct.

Speaker 3 10:44

But what they don't know is you guys just moved up to d2 and that's the reason they went to get superstars like you. Yes, sir, yes sir, d2 football man, that's big time and you're starting as a freshman yes, sir, we might have three of the greatest athletes haley's ever seen I appreciate y'all know chris gonna take y'all's horn the whole show including rudy. I grew up with the science pops on on south kent. Look man, I'm telling you right now these kids are amazing I'm with you.

Speaker 2 11:13

Suicide, okay. So the question I asked uh, emirates and rylan was uh, what do you believe was your biggest challenge in sports?

Overcoming Challenges as Athletes

Speaker 5 11:22

Well, I'm going to go off what Emery said Like it was a senior year. I feel like senior year it takes like it's a big step just because it's your last year, so you have a lot of pressure on your back between teammates and becoming a captain, and then, like you being like a top athlete, you got a lot of pressure. So I think, yeah, yeah, senior year was the most challenging, just because you're trying to, um, really, really shoot for your targets on your back, right, yeah, yeah, yeah trying to shoot for your goals, knowing it's your last time.

Speaker 5 11:54

It's like it brings a lot on you, but uh, yeah, I think senior year okay, all right.

Speaker 2 12:02

So another question let's see how do you manage your athletics and with your academics, how do you balance out your guys' schedule?

Speaker 5 12:13

Emerson can start that out.

Speaker 3 12:17

You guys are both starting college this year, so that's a whole new learning curve. Yeah, the freedoms in college are different, trust me.

Speaker 5 12:25

Yeah.

Speaker 3 12:26

Mom and dad might be there watching y'all right now, but they're not there when y'all in college Emerson.

Speaker 2 12:31

You want to start it off again. The boys will let you go first.

Speaker 4 12:35

Yeah, sure, throughout high school academics was always the priority for me. So I think just finding any time that I had downtime, wherever it was, in the car on the way to travel soccer that was, that was really when I did most of my schoolwork was when I would kind of prioritize school and not be focusing on sports. I think that was just the best balance for me finding the time to really focus on academics and then saving the extra time for practice or practice outside of sports, and then also time in school. If I had downtime I wasn't sitting there on my phone or talking to friends. That was making sure that all of my schoolwork was done.

Speaker 3 13:23

Got you you had a lot of big big siblings to look up to too, right.

Speaker 4 13:29

Yeah, definitely you might be the GOAT, you might be the.

Speaker 3 13:34

GOAT pal Rudy, and I might be the GOAT.

Speaker 2 13:37

Rylan, how did you balance your schedule?

Speaker 1 13:41

High school. Honestly, I didn't start off handling it bell or well, because I was kind of always procrastinating and wanted to put sports first kind of but like throughout, like sophomore year I uh I realized that school actually is very important, especially me wanting to be an athlete in college.

Speaker 1 14:01

Like I had to really turn things around. So now I really just focused on doing my work in class and like, even if it's during the lecture, I'm trying to do the assignments, then just get it over with. So then I'm not really stressing about it later on, like outside of school, because that's kind of when I want my time to like focus on sports and stuff like that. But yeah, I do now I just prioritize academics before I do sports awesome uh, yeah me my freshman and sophomore year.

Speaker 5 14:31

I was terrible in school I love your eyes. Yeah, this is yeah, this is what this can do god.

Speaker 2 14:41

Hey, what this can do is help other young athletes out there.

Speaker 5 14:45

If you're a young'un and you're starting out in high school, make sure you do your work. It is important.

Speaker 3 14:52

River Island, you're still there. Man Lead those kids by example.

Speaker 1 14:56

Yeah, I got to, got to be a leader.

Speaker 2 14:59

Because the thing is I stress, because, since I coach, it starts with your grades and then you can write your ticket and, like a sign, say, anywhere you want to go, You've got good grades and you're a good athlete Not just just be a good athlete and coaches will take them grades. They got the grades, they're responsible, you know they get their stuff done. They're going to take that over a high-profile athlete who doesn't do their work.

Speaker 3 15:23

Because there's some sad stories of some athletes that's been better than most, but because they didn't hit the books enough just not to get 3.5 or whatever, but just enough to pass and get to college. They didn't do it and they ended up in the streets or wherever else, and you know they're the what-if stories. Yeah, the what-ifs.

Speaker 2 15:44

You three are young. Promise, what'd you say? I said these three are not going to be the what ifs yeah, well, definitely not.

Speaker 3 15:51

We can see that, but I'm saying like you, like you're talking about and they can lead by example, emirates. Going to uva, we already know what that school stands for and, no lie, this kid is starting football as a freshman man. That's amazing. Like these kids all have potential to really help mold the future generations, even where they're at.

Speaker 2 16:09

Right yeah, hemerich, do you have any?

Speaker 3 16:13

thoughts of, maybe one day, either running or trying out for soccer at UVA.

Balancing Academics and Athletics

Speaker 4 16:18

Oh, honestly no, I think that I'm really satisfied with my decision not to play. That's fine.

Speaker 3 16:36

We don't want you to go home just because you're African. We're just proud of what you guys have accomplished and are continuing to do, but UVA is one of the most intelligent, educated schools in the country, so you definitely got to hit the books yes, I'm super excited I won't speak for his time, but as a starting freshman over there he's gonna have some trouble so you got, everybody's gonna want you to party you're a young star and all the girls are going to be on you. We're locked in. We're locked in.

Speaker 5 17:07

We're not worried about that at all.

Speaker 3 17:08

That's what I want to hear. There you go.

Speaker 5 17:12

I've already witnessed not getting the good grades. I do not want to go through that again. So we're locked in.

Speaker 3 17:18

Hey, we're glad to hear that. It's not easy. I messed up my freshman year of college.

Speaker 5 17:23

I understand.

Speaker 3 17:24

Karen Oglesby just got an offer to the school I went to college for and look, I played my first semester. My second semester. I couldn't play no more because I was too worried about everything.

Speaker 5 17:36

But going to class. I mean one thing about this school that I really like is like they're going to make sure that you are getting your stuff done. Like because a lot of people here here their main problem was grades. There's a lot of Division I athletes here that's transfers, and they just had a problem with grades. So the school itself and the teachers and just the guidance or whatever, they're going to make sure you get a good GPA. You're going to try to you come here to excel. So this is one thing I like about the school too. They're going to try to you come here to excel. This is one thing I like about the school too. They're going to make sure you get your work done and that you stay on top of things. There's nothing wrong with having fun.

Speaker 3 18:11

How long have you been over there already?

Speaker 5 18:13

You got to separate business and pleasure right, yeah, for sure, I've been here for about a week and a half.

Speaker 3 18:19

Football started right when you got there.

Speaker 5 18:21

Yeah, I got here late. I got here about two days late, but good thing we didn't start anything until the day I got here, so I didn't really miss nothing. But yeah, now that's exciting.

Speaker 3 18:30

You guys are freshmen, fresh out of Hanley, and Rylan's doing his senior year and he saw both of y'all Look. I do have one question for you, hasan, and it's going to the past, but only because I want to know and you played with my nephew. I know we might not look alike, but he's my nephew tristan, and if you, if you and tristan didn't get hurt, man, I pretty much think y'all would have won a state championship oh yeah, we would.

Speaker 5 18:54

Yeah, how do you?

Speaker 3 18:54

feel about that whole thing breaking down, with him getting hurt against shirando and then you getting hurt against salem or whatever well, uh, I'm going to go back, like going into that week of Sharando like we were prepped, we had everything down.

Speaker 5 19:09

We changed the stuff up because we like just how, like I don't know, like just the preparation for them, like we had everything down packed and like him getting hurt the first offensive play. Really, it just like kind of shifted the whole game. Like it just killed the mood and like nobody was expecting that. So it was like we had to go back into uh an offense that we ran in in week one with a new quarterback that hasn't played. So it kind of killed our momentum. And then it like brought uh charando's momentum up a lot so that that game really hurt, because if we would have had Tristan, no doubt we would have killed them, we would have won that game with ease.

Speaker 3 19:50

And I think everyone was mad, but you had to actually deal with it. Man, that's got to be tough.

Speaker 5 19:56

It was hard because they knew 70% of the time the ball was going to be coming to me. So it's not hard for nine guys to be running at you and then I end up getting down. I can make maybe one, two miss, but when five other ones is coming, it's just not going to work.

Speaker 3 20:14

And then in-state, you got hurt in the beginning of the second half, right? Oh yeah, salem, who has won many championships recently. But what I want to shout out real quick before we move it on you had like 220 yards in the first half.

Speaker 5 20:30

Yeah, about 245.

Speaker 3 20:32

That's like an NFL record, yeah, yeah. You should be proud of that man and we all knew when I saw that you went down. I was upset. I am?

Speaker 5 20:43

That Sherrano game hurt me too bad. The next week I was in I was with Coach all week. We were studying, we was coming up with plays, going over stuff, just so we can like we knew, because we knew like if we make something up we're going to win this game and our whole team. We knew we was going to win that game but unfortunately I had to get hurt and kind of shit the thing.

Speaker 3 21:05

After Tristan had already got hurt Right yeah. I'm going to let Tony get back on. I'm just really excited to have all y'all on I want to know how you and. Emerus feel about what my thoughts are, and I don't know the other young man, ryland but I'm his biggest fan, I'm his biggest fan. I'm his biggest fan. That's not his family. I think he's going to the Olympics. What?

Speaker 1 21:25

do y'all think about his?

Speaker 3 21:26

potential to do that one day.

Speaker 4 21:30

Definitely there.

Speaker 2 21:34

Now one of my questions, before I forget now you guys hang out. Did you hang out in school, train together, anything like that?

Speaker 5 21:40

How do you three support each other, or if at all, I could definitely back up on Ryland, just because, knowing Ryland, he's competitive. When he's practicing he's locked in 100%. He's going to push you to want to get better.

Speaker 2 22:01

You talk a lot of praise.

Speaker 5 22:03

For the track team. He was definitely the captain. Just because every day he's out there, he's stretching, he got his own stuff going on. It kind of like motivates me to want to do that too. So I feel like rylan was, he was the big key to the track team this year.

Speaker 2 22:15

Nice nice good stuff to hear, like the captain out there or the track team yeah, all right.

Speaker 3 22:22

What about emma? She was on the track team too.

Speaker 5 22:25

We didn't have a men and women's track team, we had a track team oh, yeah, for sure, but emerson was just with the girls most of the time, so she was the captain of the girls and then rylan.

Speaker 3 22:35

Rylan did his thing with the boys I'm pretty sure she, she was dusting some of the dudes that was on the b unit, oh for sure oh for sure.

Speaker 5 22:44

She was what top three fastest on the team.

Speaker 2 22:52

There was a young lady we were with Chris in school, stacy Dawson.

Speaker 3 22:57

Yep, but that's what I'm trying to tell you. As much as I love Stacy, robert, even Rudy, everybody I went to school with these three kids have already broken their records when we get tiny and we get all them on for football. Rudy played with them. Rudy was on that team when they won states and was undefeated in 94, but he was a junior, a sophomore. Hassan would have won states, emerson, did you ask Emerson?

Speaker 2 23:20

Emerson Did you?

Speaker 3 23:22

not take Hanley to the first ever state championship for women's soccer, that's great yeah. How about that? How about those flowers?

Speaker 2 23:30

Let's say let's hold on before you end. Like you scored. What? 104 career goals. Yes, that's incredible.

Speaker 3 23:37

Thank you.

Speaker 2 23:38

Yeah.

Speaker 3 23:39

That's incredible. That's like 26 a season.

Speaker 4 23:46

I actually only scored eight goals my freshman season, so it was a lot of heavy lifting.

Speaker 2 23:50

my last three you sure showed off. I'll say that Y'all will definitely say that.

Speaker 3 23:59

How big of a role do y'all's parents play in your upbringing and your future aspirations?

Speaker 1 24:09

A lot, I would say a a lot just the support that my mom and them bring, just like always, like helping me in any way, like a gym membership to help me get training the proper coaches outside of school just to get faster and stronger, and all just that support. I'm very thankful, and she was willing to go 100% as well to help see me succeed.

Speaker 4 24:29

Yeah, yeah, I'll agree with that. It really is just the support aspect and then kind of just pushing me to always do my best. You know it was never a negative kind of you need to be doing this, but it was always just we're here for you, no matter what. What do you need to be the most successful athlete that you can be?

Speaker 5 24:53

yeah, I feel like my my dad and my mom, like they're just motivation for me to work hard every day, especially this year. My dad's really like. He's really like me and him got closer just because of like me getting older, me moving to college and just and just like the achievements that I got this year.

Speaker 2 25:10

Just like it, just it's just motivation it well and so I've known you since what? Seven, eight years old, something like that. So I will say you've been through like you don't have to go into deep, but I'm very proud what you've overcome and what you're doing right now. All three of you have my support and Chris's. But you went through a lot and Percy Deere went through a lot, so very proud of you. I just wanted to put that out there as well. So I got a question. There's always a big one. What is Hanley pride to you three?

Speaker 4 25:47

Ooh.

Speaker 2 25:48

Because us old heads have a different view. I guess I want to see what the young ones. What is Hanley pride to you?

Speaker 4 25:55

Hanley. Pride to me and I've always said this is just representing something that's bigger than yourself. Like I feel like whenever I was, you know, going out getting whatever awards and accolades that I was doing, it was always to represent Hanley in a positive light and just represent the perseverance, the persistence, the tenacity that you know we have, not just as an athlete but also in the classroom. So I just think representing something that's bigger than you as a person.

Speaker 1 26:26

Okay, rylan, yeah, I'd say piggyback on her, just like trying to represent the school and all, just like put a good positive like insight on it, like knowing that people are looking at you, especially now. For me, like being a great athlete at Hanley, like having to be that type of like leader, having it like just having to put on a good like role model, I would say kind of like doing good in the classroom, showing like kindness to the students in the school and all making sure you're like on with everything on time to school. Just showing that like a good person and representing the school, that's what I say. I'd represent Henley Pride with.

Speaker 5 27:08

They pretty much said it. They pretty much said there's nothing to add. I was going to say just what they said my.

Defining Hanley Pride

Speaker 3 27:17

Henley Pride. Is I'm so hyped right now to have you three on? I went to Henley, it doesn't matter. We went back in the old days, right? But I'm excited I would have still been excited if y'all went to Clark County, warren County, wherever, sharando, but it wouldn't have been the same. I'm hyped and I'm excited for y'all and I want to know who was y'all's professional inspiration, or is there your professional inspiration?

Speaker 2 27:47

I. I was about to ask the same question who was your role model?

Speaker 3 27:51

Because I look around and see Justin Gatlin. But I might look at Emerson and be like I see Kaitlin Clark or Amaya Moore, but not in just basketball, but just that big of an athlete from our area, man, that's amazing.

Speaker 1 28:04

Hey, I'm trying to think man From our area.

Speaker 2 28:08

Man, that's amazing. Hey, I'm trying to think Well, how about this? Who inspires you Like a mentor? Who did you look up to?

Speaker 5 28:18

I can say, my freshman year, Stephen Daly definitely inspired me. Shout out to Stephen Malachi, just current, just current, well, Hanley alumni. They definitely inspire me because, like, just like, if they're able to do something big and go big out of that school, then I know like I can do it too. And seeing how hard like they work and how good they were just kind of like motivated me to kind of want to be better than them or like, just be as good as them. You know, Right, Yo, yo Go ahead.

Speaker 3 28:46

Rylan Malachi is a senior at William Mary.

Speaker 5 28:49

I believe, so I'm about to graduate.

Speaker 3 28:52

He made ESPN Sports Center his freshman year, yeah.

Speaker 1 28:59

That was dope. Yeah, I'd have to say yeah, probably the Hanley upperclassmen. Just like seeing them all going to college and like the type of success that they've all had. Especially like seeing like Emerus when she committed to Auburn and all Like that was just a big school. Yeah, I'm like I want to try and do something like that too. Go to a big school and then I'd say, professional track. It's definitely got to be somebody like Usain Bolt, like just the Just the best to ever do it.

Speaker 3 29:26

Well, I wouldn't expect anything less. I might have said Justin Gatlin, but you're like, nah, he can't be Usain Bolt.

Speaker 1 29:34

Usain Bolt. He's the best.

Speaker 3 29:36

You said Emerus man, that's fire.

Speaker 1 29:38

Yeah.

Speaker 2 29:40

I think you got to blot you now. Go ahead, Emerus.

Speaker 4 29:45

My inspiration was probably first my oldest sister, just because she was kind of the basketball star and I think that's who I always looked up to.

Speaker 3 29:54

The Haley legend. She's in the top 1,000 points. Yes, yes, and she played in my event Hoops for Hope. Man Nothing but love.

Speaker 4 30:02

Yes, yeah, no, she's awesome. She was just the star of her team and I think that's something that I always aspired to be as I was growing up. As for celebrities, I think track athletes, especially the ones who have gold medals so, yeah, usain Bolt or Gabby Thomas, like, I think those athletes who are the best of the best just inspired me as well to kind of be on that level relative to Winchester, you like, you like Zachary Richardson? Yeah, no, she's. She's great, yeah, she's a beast, yeah, she is.

Speaker 3 30:39

Nice.

Speaker 5 30:41

Shout out Masai Russell's. We met her, we got a picture we have a picture with her.

Speaker 4 30:45

Who was it? Masai Russell's. We met her. We got a picture with her.

Speaker 5 30:47

Who was it? Masai Russells, she's a hurdler, olympic hurdler.

Speaker 3 30:51

Nice, I ain't gonna lie. I don't know who that is, but that's dope.

Speaker 2 30:57

I don't know who it is Prince loves basketball.

Speaker 3 31:01

One of my best friends went to Nationals for the 300 hurdles. Did you guys have the pin relays basketball? One of my best friends went to Nationals for the 300 hurdles. Oh sad. Hey, did you guys have the pin relays?

Speaker 1 31:11

Nah, we didn't go to pin relays.

Speaker 3 31:13

Yeah, we didn't.

Speaker 1 31:14

They still do it, though. Oh yeah, it's a big event every year.

Speaker 3 31:19

Yeah, it always was. I didn't know if they still did it.

Speaker 1 31:22

Nah, yeah, it's like it's still a very big event now this time I'm not gonna lie.

Speaker 3 31:28

This is dope talking to you because you're going to the olympics in a few years.

Speaker 2 31:31

Yeah, sure, we go back to this show. Right here we are winning golds, and then you got a shout out and put that gold medal in your mouth like what, right, right, but uh, todd, I know you gotta run real quick, but uh, one last question. We have a little fun right now with you guys. Uh, let's ask you so who's your favorite athlete?

Speaker 4 32:00

uh mine is probably Megan Rapinoe. She's a soccer player. Yeah, she's a beast yeah.

Speaker 3 32:14

I think she's married to another player yeah, she is.

Speaker 4 32:17

She's married to a basketball player see, so I know, I would say her, but also probably Simone Biles, even though she's not my sport at all. I think she's just stellar, like outstanding and amazing.

Speaker 3 32:33

One of the most decorated.

Speaker 5 32:35

Yeah.

Speaker 3 32:35

Yeah.

Speaker 5 32:36

Yeah, mine right now is Jameer Gibbs, detroit. Yeah, detroit, alabama, you know, yeah, yeah, detroit, alabama, you know, yeah, I'd like his Alabama. I like Alabama Gibbs more than Detroit.

Speaker 3 32:51

Are you the best running back ever from Hanley?

Speaker 5 32:54

Am I the? Best running back.

Speaker 3 32:56

I put it out there. I don't really care. Yeah, my favorite running back ever.

Speaker 2 33:00

I started to say, yeah, be a little cocky, right now?

Speaker 5 33:04

Yep, I am. I'm not even trying to be cocky, but like, If you're not the best, you're one of them. My stats is up there. And for me not to get the ball as much as everybody else did, I think if I would have got as many attempts as they did, I would have broke the school record.

Speaker 3 33:22

Hey, I'd love to hear that Emberis best soccer star from Hanley ever. Yeah, I'll say yeah. Love it, we agree. Hey and Ronald look they're both going to college right now. You're a senior Just now started this week Best track athlete Hanley's ever had. I didn't say field, but track.

Speaker 1 33:44

Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 2 33:47

Ronald, who's your favorite athlete?

Speaker 1 33:50

It's got to be somebody like Ray Lewis, honestly, but it's more like the role model Not really being able to watch him on TV playing and all but just like he's always leading and teaching the young people just how to do stuff, how to be a man, and just like taking, like taking them in the right steps and not letting them go off the right paths, just being like a good role model for young athletes. And I say him and just like him and like Usain Bolt for track, just like the perseverance that they've gone through, like they've gone through their struggles and their ups and downs and all, but just being able to bounce back, having a strong mentality, knowing that like they all, but just being able to bounce back, having a strong mentality, knowing that like they're still good and being able to go out and win Super Bowls and medals and all like that, like that's the type of person that I would look and see myself in the future.

Speaker 2 34:37

Hey, I listen to Ray Lewis motivational videos all the time. I feel, like getting on the football field when I've watched hey Ray. Lewis is a great one to look up to. Moving on a little fun question what music are you guys listening to these days? Music artists.

Speaker 3 34:57

I'm sure you don't know who they are.

Speaker 2 34:59

I probably don't, but just put it out there.

Speaker 1 35:03

Definitely rap and R&B.

Speaker 5 35:06

I'd say it just depends on the, the type of mood and vibe I'm in it's between those two yeah, like right now, since I gotta get up at five in the morning for practice, I gotta blast some chucky in my ear just because, like it's not even what he says, and not even like because he's saying some crazy stuff, but it's like the beat and the instrumental.

Speaker 4 35:25

It just kind of gets me like started there you go yeah go ahead, emery oh, I listen to a lot of things, but I probably mostly listen to pop, like I'm a big sabrina carpenter listener sorry, I did not know who that is.

Speaker 2 35:43

Selena Carpenter. She blew up last year.

Speaker 3 35:45

From what I know, she blew up last year.

Speaker 2 35:49

Hey, come on, I'm out of the loop here.

Speaker 3 35:52

I'm old, you're kids, ain't you?

Speaker 4 35:55

You have the other superstars coming I don't know if they have the crap they're listening to.

Speaker 3 36:00

This little scary guy.

Speaker 2 36:02

We're trying to get Christian on this call today, but he will not get on. He this little scary battle. We're trying to get Christian on, but he will not get on. He will not get on. Yeah, christian's on the job.

Speaker 3 36:09

But look, you know who those rappers are because your kids listen to them. I don't know half of them. You're the one that told me it's not OD anymore, it's OC. I'm like what, yeah?

Speaker 2 36:21

So that's a question for you Do you guys use OC? That's what I heard the other day.

Speaker 5 36:26

No, I still use OD.

Speaker 3 36:29

Yeah, I'm not kidding.

Speaker 2 36:30

Maybe Chris was debating back and forth.

Speaker 3 36:32

He's trying to argue. I never heard that His kid is making up something.

Speaker 5 36:35

Yeah, he's making stuff up.

Speaker 2 36:38

But that's what Slade is anyway, you can't just make it up.

Speaker 3 36:42

You got to be fabulous and Jadakiss and those kind of people to have the influence on people. You got to be young, baby to baby, whoever you got to be them or you ain't got no influence.

Speaker 2 36:52

You can ask a.

Speaker 3 36:53

Christian, who else knows it? It'll be like my third grade math class, my third period math class or whatever. Nobody know that word, oh see.

Speaker 2 37:01

All right, moving on, chris I, I gotta calm you down. So, uh, what is your favorite food or meal?

Speaker 1 37:13

Um yeah.

Speaker 4 37:15

Yeah, probably.

Speaker 2 37:19

Yeah, I'm with you, yeah.

Speaker 1 37:22

I'm definitely like a Steak or rib type of person. Honestly, I've always been like eating steaks or something like that, or ribs, every restaurant I go to I'm like y'all got a steak or you want to try that new steak. They got everywhere yeah yeah I'm with my gut there you go, so let.

Speaker 2 37:42

Lastly, what advice? Because I know mental health is a big thing these days in sports, right, but you guys have touched on a little adversity and all. So what advice do you have for the up-and-coming kids, like, say, middle schoolers, because you know these guys look up to you, because I coach at middle school, so I tell them there's always levels. You know middle schoolers look up to the local high school athletes and then you guys Emerson and Emerson I keep saying Emerson, sorry, emerson, that sign, then the high schoolers will look up to you guys.

Fun Questions and Life Insights

Speaker 4 38:17

What advice do you have for the youngins out there? My advice would probably just be not to compare yourself to any other athlete, because everybody has their own journey. You might not be as good as somebody. But, as long as you keep focused, and I mean they're still living their dreams.

Speaker 3 38:41

It's not easy to say, but they know follow their lead. That's what the young kids need to do.

Speaker 2 38:46

Yeah, if you're in, daniel morgan rylan or uh, you got any advice.

Speaker 1 38:51

Yeah, you're good, go ahead, rylan all right, um, I say definitely, just like keep your eyes on the prize and just like focusing on what's important, not getting knocked off track with other stuff, and just keeping a strong mindset even if you go through the struggle or struggles and difficulties, make sure, like you keep your head strong and just know to keep working and all. Don't ever give up.

Speaker 2 39:21

You got a sign.

Speaker 5 39:22

Yeah, yeah, what they say. You just just gotta want to grind. If you, if you know you love the sport, then you just got. You just gotta start to love it, because there's gonna be hard times. Trust and believe it gets hard all the time, but you just gotta. You just gotta keep wanting to do it. You gotta, like rylan said, keep your eyes on the prize. And another thing is, um, keep your faith in god. Uh, or just like, if you really are going through something, or like you're not feeling as motivated, find somebody to talk to. It can be a coach, a friend. You know, you gotta always have somebody to talk to too, because you can't go through it all by yourself.

Speaker 2 40:00

Alright, chris, you got anything to add before we let these three young people go?

Speaker 3 40:05

Yeah, none of them are basketball stars, and that's fine. You got anything to add before we let these three young people go?

Speaker 5 40:09

Yeah, none of them are basketball stars, and that's fine.

Speaker 3 40:13

But y'all know how they talk about big threes.

Speaker 2 40:15

Y'all might be my favorite big three ever from Hanley man. You got the big three on today.

Speaker 3 40:17

And I always say, like when I did my event and like I had Emmerich's sister on and all these other people, I'm not waiting to give people their flowers, so I'm going to had emma's sister on and all these other people, I'm not waiting to give people their flowers so I'm gonna do an event one day and I'm gonna bring all y'all back, man, but y'all might be my favorite victory and I'm proud of y'all and I wish y'all the best and everything y'all do, we're gonna keep thank you, y'all need something.

Speaker 3 40:37

Y'all need something. Hit us up, man. You can get my number from, from whoever christian or whoever, and just how. That is because we're here to support you, no matter what you do, emerus, even if you're just going for academics look, that's the hardest thing. So we're going to support y'all in everything y'all do. We wish y'all the best, and we're proud of you.

Speaker 2 40:55

Thanks for being on the show today.

Speaker 1 40:57

Thank you too.

Speaker 2 41:00

Take care hey.

Speaker 3 41:01

Rylan, we want tickets to the Olympics.

Speaker 2 41:03

For sure.

Speaker 3 41:03

Hey. Ryland we want tickets to the Olympics. Sure, I'm just messing with y'all, but we wish y'all the best man for real.

Speaker 2 41:10

Y'all take care. I appreciate you all being on.

Speaker 5 41:13

All right. Thank you for having us on All right, see y'all All right.

Speaker 3 41:18

Get to practice man. He did too. He ran quicker than Ryland.

Speaker 2 41:26

Yeah, he did. Yeah, so there Wrap that up guys. It was great Having them young Free athletes on Chris.

Speaker 3 41:33

Yeah, yeah, that was fun. I told you you knew I'd be hyped the whole time, but I love it. Man, it's great to have you.

Speaker 2 41:38

I had to calm you down, bro, you were so hyped.

Speaker 3 41:41

Hey, you're lucky, I didn't have more Than one coffee tonight.

Speaker 2 41:43

Right, you're lucky, I didn't have more than one coffee tonight, right? But hey, everybody you know, thanks for tuning in tonight. Go to our YouTube page subscribe subscribe buttons right there on YouTube, at Brothers With Opinions. We're on Facebook. You can follow us there. All our links are there for Instagram, youtube channel X. What am I forgetting? I'm forgetting one other TikTok I get. Yeah, we're on TikTok too. So, hey, everybody, go follow. Please subscribe to the show, cause I we know everybody listening and tuning in, but please go subscribe and support us.

Speaker 3 42:18

Yeah, it really does only take one or two seconds. You just click it subscribe. Click it Subscribe. It's free. We don't ask nobody to charge. Hopefully, if enough of y'all support us, one day we can make it to where other people have to get charged. But to have friends and family that watch or know about it but don't support or don't follow or subscribe, that's crazy. I'm going to be honest.

Speaker 2 42:36

Y'all know me, I speak my mind and you know what's on here. We're going to keep it real with everybody.

Speaker 3 42:41

Buddy, we got my man, citrus on next week, tony, so get hype. Mr YDC, mr Rising Stars, my boy, tyrus, thomas man, and he's been doing big things in the community so I grew up with him, you know Fairview, so gotta show love. Tyrus is on next week. The week after that we got the 94 undefeated state championship handling team finally on, but they'll be on the Sunday, the 31st rather than Thursday.

Speaker 2 43:05

That's when we get them all together.

Advice for Young Athletes

Speaker 3 43:07

Pierce Gonzalez coming up soon. We got Chris West. We got Carl Rush. We got people in the works, Miss Shelly Lee, we're going to try to get her on Like. We got people in the works man, we got the drill team. If y'all don't know about it, ask Miss Stephanie Washington in 97-98.

Speaker 1 43:22

We Stephanie Washington is 97-98.

Speaker 3 43:23

We bringing things back, we doing it for the community, but we doing it for everybody. Man, if y'all want to get in on it, y'all want to talk? Tony's right there. I'm here, just a phone call or email away. Man. Hit us up, man, let us know.

Speaker 2 43:33

But subscribe for real Brothers with opinions, even if you're a woman holler at for joining us and, like I say, chris just said, tune in next Thursday. We'll have Tyrus Thomas on president, I believe, of YDC and runs Rise of Stars travel organization. So we'll get everybody to tune in next Thursday for that. All right, chris, I'll holler at you in a minute, you know that.

Speaker 3 44:01

Yes, sir, y'all be safe. Man, have a blessed night.

Speaker 2 44:04

All right, peace from New.

Speaker 3 44:05

York. Peace from VA.