Two ECHS Students Named To Tom Leach's "All-Resilient Team"

Senior Skylar Lewis and Junior Nick Johnson To Receive Awards

Darren Doyle, story: Edmonson Voice photos:
Two Edmonson County High School students have been named to the Tom Leach "All-Resilient Team," according to a spokesperson from the organization.

The All-Resilient Team honors student-athletes from Kentucky high schools who have had to overcome some form of adversity to compete and often excel in sports, within the previous calendar year. 

Nick Johnson, a junior, has been named to the Tom Leach All Resilient Team.

Nick, a basketball team manager, member of the JV basketball team, and former football manager, suffered a stroke while in the womb. Doctors said he'd never walk nor talk. His mother, Elysia, said she and her husband Mickey, weren't satisfied with that diagnosis so they got a second opinion. Another group of doctors said otherwise and Nick began physical and speech therapy at around 8 months of age.

Nick's right side is weakened somewhat and has occasional trouble lifting certain objects with his right hand, but that's certainly not stopped him. During a recent JV basketball game at home against Metcalfe County, Nick hit three consecutive three-pointers that brought both the crowd and the opposing team to their feet. 

There are few students anywhere with the school spirit like that of Nick Johnson.

Senior Skylar Lewis has been named to the Tom Leach All-Resilient Team.

Skylar Lewis is also no stranger to overcoming obstacles. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 10 then with Type I Diabetes at age 12. Despite that, she began playing little league basketball at age 4, which eventually led to her role as a valued member of the Edmonson County Lady Cats, who just completed the most successful season in school's history.

Just this year alone, she's overcome a shoulder injury, a knee injury, and a horrible round of the flu--coupled with a viral infection where she suffered vertigo for nearly a month, in addition to her battles with epilepsy and blood sugar troubles. She recovered, and helped the Lady Cats claim the team's first district championship in 20 years.

She was named a Region 3 winner of the Ronnie Hardin Memorial Scholarship during the regional tournament. She is the daughter of Jessica Hines and Brian Lewis.

Both students are invited to a formal awards banquet at the Ramada Plaza Hotel Convention Center in Louisville on Thursday, April  26th at 6pm eastern time.