Ten ECHS Student Athletes Attend Statewide KHSAA Leadership Conference

Pictured from left to right: Tayla Wilhite, Elizabeth Talley, Shelby Sowders, Emma Davis, Ellie Claire Spainhoward, Ally Browning, Eli Prunty, Aidan Merideth, Drew Pierce, and Kyle Pierce.

Peytin Manor, story:
On September 30, 2025, ten Edmonson County High School student athletes attended the KHSAA HYPE Student Leadership Conference. HYPE is a one-day student leadership conference where students take part in educational interaction with other student athletes across the state to discuss issues and garner information to take back to their home teams and student body. 

The students selected are all KHSAA student-athletes that have shown tremendous behavior, attendance, in addition to effective leadership skills, separate from their respective sports. The students selected for the conference were Cariann Williams (not pictured), Tayla Wilhite, Shelby Sowders, Emma Davis, Elizabeth Talley, Ally Browning, Ellie Claire Spainhoward, Eli Prunty, Drew Pierce, and Aidan Meredith. They represented basketball, track, cross country, baseball, golf, tennis, soccer, and cheer. 

Senior, Cariann Williams, was selected by the KHSAA after several rounds of rigorous interviews to become one of the KHSAA Student Advisory Group members. 

Kyle Pierce, ECHS Athletic Director and JAG-KY Specialist, stated, “We’re very proud of Cariann and her willingness to represent us with the KHSAA and their staff. She spent a week during the summer and then three days this fall prepping and running the event. We really have some great student-athletes representing our school in all of our sports and sport activities and that is a direct reflection on their parents and their families and our coaches.” 

ECHS Principal Jonathan Williams described having Cariann Williams selected for the National Student Advisory board was an amazing accomplishment.

"When I went to pick her up from the conference, she was in tears because she was truly upset she had to leave so soon," Mr. Williams said. "The conference truly was an amazing opportunity for students to learn and grow. Our school sent multiple wonderful student-athletes to represent us at this conference at the state level. The students that attended told me and many others that they had a great time. There were excellent speakers there as well. Anytime students are working with Kyle Pierce, Leanne Pierce, or Nicole Meredith, they will almost always be guaranteed the best educational experience."