Russellville High School athletes receive spring sports honors
A group of Russellville High School athletes including a tennis standout and a large number of talented soccer players have recently been honored with postseason awards.
The annual AHSAA North-South All-Star Week will be held July 17-21 in Montgomery, and two Golden Tigers will be competing for the North before their senior seasons begin. Peyton Parrish made the girls’ tennis team, and Brian Lara will be participating in the boys’ soccer match.
Parrish proved to be one of the top players in the state this year for Coach Charlotte Dollar’s team. As a junior on the No. 1 court, she was a key member of another section-winning squad at RHS and finished state runner-up in 5A doubles with Sofia Tiffin. Parrish also advanced to the semifinals in No. 1 singles at state in 5A.
Lara also had a successful junior season in 2023. The 6’2” midfielder/forward for Coach Trey Stanford’s Russellville team helped the Golden Tigers win the area and a Class 5A playoff game.
The RHS boys’ soccer program has proved to be one of the top teams in Alabama, and this year’s group had two players earn Class 5A all-state first team honors. Additionally, three more Golden Tigers were named to the 5A all-state second team.
Seniors Emanuel Villegas and Yamilson Velasquez made the first team roster, and they were joined on the all-state list by second-teamers Lara, Manny Martinez and Raymond Espana.
The RHS program under Stanford is built not only on winning but also on helping young men grow into successful people off the field.
“We’ve had some great players come through here, and I’m more proud of the fact that we’ve had some great young men that come through here,” Stanford said. “That is what has kept our program headed in the right direction. It’s because of how good of people and how good of guys they are.”
