High School Athlete of the Year
Wilbanks’ life forever. insurance.
Stronger Athlete of the Year. losses included their home and cars. took in people who could not pay. business. things into their proper perspective. of our most prestigious annual award. program. All sports were out. indeed a true Upper Limit athlete. his mother called our BFS ofÏces. a great experience.
BFS Football All-American 3rd Team. kitchen table. nursery until late that night. true. much.” lege was to earn a scholarship.
P. and workout on his own.” that Noah's team from Homestead, through worst of Hurricane Andrew.
It just so happened that I was scheduled to do a BFS clinic in the Miami area the following week.
Iat the clinic. the 3-day BFS clinic. over and over, but said they didn't have any way or any money to get there.
Iand met his parents and two sisters. worry about it. up.” turned out to be an inspired decision. As I drove to South Dade High School, I saw a community still in the throes ed in all kinds of sports. ed as a team mother. lifting weights in the 7th grade in a special junior weight training program.
Coach Drinkhahn, in the weight room. really fired him up.”
All-American family. caused by the hurricane. the Year. er, was yesterday's news. to clean up debris. bleeding from the ears and nose. all thought that this was it. leading candidate for our BFS Athlete of wrong. cancer.
Idevastation. al record. her remarks.
“Coach Shepard, you don’t know son.
Nearly 300 Pounds! his hair but he became even more determined. even concerned his mother. “I don't care,” said young Noah, “I'll do whatever it takes.” Noah lifted weights three times per week at a public gym and ran everyday.
Noah never missed. times he'd fall asleep on the way to the gym,” said Mrs. Wilbanks proudly. meant Noah could not participate in any sport including football.
Noah's older sister, followed the same school schedule.
Mrs. in my kids. that Noah continued his home-study program for nearly three years. would have been his 8th, 9th and 10th He never went to a public school or had much interaction with any other kids. sense, was like a hermit.
“Mom, I just don't have a life.” Noah and his mother went to the bedroom and prayed. came. enrolled her son at South Dade High School and decided she would work extra hard so Noah could go to school. They were introduced to Head Football Coach Don Drinkhahn, who quickly got Noah signed up for weight training and football. improved. deadly cancer went into remission.
Noah began to blossom. his inspiration.
He just came to life. could not play football during what grade year. flashlight so he could run up stairs. kind?” what, “If you're not in shape, you’re not given a chance. smart.” there would be no football. have imagined. occupied the practice field. tent city for relief volunteers. most devastating natural disasters. back. shirts on their back. which had two rooms still standing. walls.”
Mr. Wilbanks drilled a hole in the floor to drain out the water. away. realistically, and what's realistic is that we don't have the ball players - that’s in sprints. like houses and water and food and....” was looking for Noah. the debris. no phones and only 30% of the classrooms remained. again. to help anyone he could. As Noah's junior walls and no electricity,” again play football.
“You could hear everything. dren crying. key player. ears.” final senior year. were left. games and ran relays with them. through those first days. like a man possessed. every rep. positive. goal.
Pictured From Left to Right: Coach Dan Kirkpatrick, BFS President Greg Shepard, Noah Wilbanks rounded the county to keep out looters. was R NOAH WILBAN! looked like a done deal, but just before ues. accepted righteous ways. found them. tion Noah started in the North-South Allwith only 2:20 left. another school and play football. leaving.
Not on your life! can't play twelve games, but we can play Bowl. seven.” away.
Noah turned to his mother, “Coach believes in me. leave.” recovery. At practice he ran a 4.6 forty. kick a 49-yard field goal, but just kick anything. before the kick and the unbelievable happened. The kick was good and South Dade came away with a 3-0 victory. With believed things would work out. The players finally got together flashes of smiles and tears flowing, Noah moment of my life.” had it the worst. They began by going into the weight room. tired.
State teams. players.
League. This happiness was short lived. need to try to do the best job we can. the hurricane. She nearly died. out of it: We're going to be better men.” thought I was dead,” said Mrs. Wilbanks, “they had to put the paddles to me.” who were left were, “Don’t despair.
“I love the coaches and this team. has numbness and gets over tired easily. style.” when she says, “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Andrew. on a friend's yard.
Sparks, the football coach at CarsonNewman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
Noah's dream was finally realized as Coach Sparks offered him a scholarship. Then, as school ofÏcials got to know the family, they also realized the talents of Elizabeth Wilbanks. At 22, she never thought she'd have a chance, but she too was offered a full scholarship at Carson-Newman.
Wilbanks softly said, “Carson-Newman went way beyond their means. We are so very happy to have two kids in college. It’s something I thought was beyond our reach. We thank God everyday.”
We thank the Wilbanks family, Noah’s coaches and especially Noah. He has taught us much about being a true Upper Limit person and athlete. most deserving of being our 1993 BFS High School Athlete of the Year...
To Coach Shepard and BFS, Bill Wilbanks has also left his mark. street and their enticing and dangers. to less than a 100 yards and a shutout.
Dear Coach Shepard, Thank you so much for all you have done for Noah and I.
Dear Coach Shepard, I can't thank you enough for the happiness and joy. at it the same day. improvement.
It was awesome. said. rate and it's only our first week. that old zeal back.
Since you left, I notice he got It’s a joy to see mountains, with great focus and determination. thankful for all the gifts I have received. Your program has helped me concentrate and grow spiritually, mentally and, of course, physically. God bless, Tanna Wilbanks, Noah's Mother Dan Kirkpatrick, Strength Coach him so happy. again.
From BFS Magazine — Winter 1993. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
