Quite the character

SPRING VALLEY — Recognized for his achievements as an individual who gives full effort on and off the playing field, Hall High School senior Jake Merkel is the recent recipient of the Burlsworth Character Award.

The award winner characterizes a student who understands leadership and attention to detail, whether that’s running a crisp route on the way to the end zone, understanding the value in studying for a test or simply speaking to one’s peers with kindness and respect.

Merkel was nominated by Hall High School head football coach Randy Tieman, and the senior wide receiver/safety said he wasn’t actually aware of his inclusion as a finalist until he won the award, and yet his thoughts on teamwork indicate his worthiness of the achievement.

“If you can get everybody on the same page, you’ll have good team chemistry, and that’s how you win games,” Merkel said, mentioning he also protects third base on the Hall baseball team and brings a hefty Louisville Slugger to home plate each time he’s called upon. “If you care for each other, you’ll play well together.”

The Burlsworth Character Award is handed out in memory of Brandon Burlsworth, a nerdy walk-on to the Arkansas Razorbacks football team whose tireless dedication to improvement turned him into a first team All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999, but died in a head-on car crash just days after the draft.

Merkel epitomizes the kind of person Burlsworth was — a hard-working slice of humble pie — and he credits his approach to life to being raised in a tight-knit family.

“My family is really close, and they always taught me to have good manners and do the right thing, so I picked up on it early and have been doing it ever since,” Merkel said, mentioning his older brother has been there for him throughout his life, teaching him how to conduct himself properly even as they have somewhat opposite personalities.

Merkel believes in the power of the little things, like a kind word or a positive gesture, and knows at a young age being a leader means treating everyone with genuine kindness, regardless if they are friend or stranger. His future plans include studying sports management at North Central College or St. Ambrose University.

“It was kind of surprising winning this award because you never think about trying to win something for having good character, but it’s definitely cool.”

As a reward for the accolade, Merkel, Tieman and Hall High School will be included in the end credits of the movie “Greater,” the summer 2016 film commemorating Brandon Burlsworth.

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