02/12/2024

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WATCH NOW: 2022 Thompson Award Finalist: Lara McClanahan, Honaker | Sports News

WATCH NOW: 2022 Thompson Award Finalist: Lara McClanahan, Honaker | Sports News

HONAKER, Va. – Honaker’s Lara McClanahan was shaped by a life-shifting nightmare in the eighth grade.

Just as McClanahan was making ready to satisfy new mates and enroll in new lessons, her father Mark underwent quadruple bypass heart surgical treatment.

“It was heartbreaking,” Lara McClanahan reported. “But we’re a robust household and we assistance just about every other.”

Just before and right after the exhaustive surgery, McClanahan watched as the nursing workers at Johnson City Health-related Middle took treatment of her father.

“They experienced to keep him on a ventilator for a whilst and the nurses ended up so compassionate and practical,” McClanahan claimed. “That was the spark for me.”

That spark set McClanahan on a unforgettable route as a scholar-athlete at Honaker Higher University. The next stage commences this slide at Southwest Virginia Group College or university when she embarks on her reports to come to be a nurse.

“I’ve always appreciated helping persons and I come to feel like this is the most effective subject for me with my temperament,” said McClanahan, who has by now taken a training course in clinical terminology.

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There is 1 continuous to McClanahan’s identity. It’s component of the explanation why she’s so well-known with teachers, coaches and teammates.

“It’s the smile,” explained Honaker senior Autumn Miller mentioned. “Lara smiles all the time, and it lights up the area.”

Prior to coming into substantial school, McClanahan and her spouse and children moved from the Twin Valley local community in Buchanan County to Honaker. McClanahan swiftly designed buddies with Miller and that bond was strengthened through basketball and volleyball.

“We could usually rely on Lara in any situation,” Miller claimed. “If a person was having a undesirable working day, Lara just had a way of earning anything much better.”

Honaker basketball and volleyball mentor Misty Miller is aware all about McClanahan’s one of a kind talent for developing a constructive tone as a workforce captain.

“Lara is one of the most effective athletes I’ve had the privilege to mentor, and she’s an even improved individual,” Mentor Miller said.

When the strong Honaker basketball workforce developed a significant lead the earlier a few seasons, McClanahan usually volunteered to just take a split from her place guard obligations so that a reserve player could occur off the bench.

“That’s just the type of human being Lara is,” Mentor Miller said. “Lara has a coronary heart of gold, she normally place the staff first and she will work unbelievably tough. No matter what Lara does immediately after school, she will be a results.”

The romantic relationship involving Mentor Miller and McClanahan was especially tight since Miller excelled as a issue guard at Honaker and Virginia Intermont University.

From interior passing to protection, Miller and McClanahan had numerous discussions on the essentials of flooring leadership.

“Lara did a excellent career dealing with that job,” Coach Miller said. “She’s constantly been respectful and inquisitive about means she can get better.

“That willingness to give up playing time so that other women could get in video games illustrates the selflessness Lara had.”

McClanahan flourished on the large stage in Richmond as the Tigers earned three straight Virginia Substantial School League Class 1 condition titles in basketball.

“I do not like to brag but successful those people condition championships was a actually interesting expertise,” McClanahan claimed. “I will by no means fail to remember that emotion.”

Prior to the joy, there was discomfort.

Flash back to the 2020 state basketball championship contest in Richmond. As the Tigers had been getting ready to go away their motel for the shorter journey to Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth College, they were confronted with a big dose of lousy information.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, VHSL officials canceled the remainder of the match. Alternatively of driving to VCU, the Tigers faced a 330-mile trek again to Russell County. The honor of being named as a co point out winner rang hollow.

“It was truly tricky,” McClanahan claimed. “We experienced been to the gym at VCU that morning to check out Gate City engage in, and it was difficult for us to comprehend that every thing was in excess of so fast.”

What had been the thoughts on that unexpected bus journey residence?

“It was mainly crying at initial, and we didn’t get household until two in the early morning,” McClanahan stated. “That pain stayed for a very long time, and it pushed us to get again to Richmond and complete the position.”

With McClanahan directing the well balanced offense, the Tigers stormed to the previous two Course 1 titles and grew to become aspect of the wealthy legacy in Honaker athletics.

Just really do not inquire McClanahan about her stats.

“I hardly ever saved up with that,” McClanahan said. “I was just pleased to see my teammates do properly. Mentor Miller was a fantastic place guard, and she aided so a great deal with technique and what to do in various cases. I guess I just followed in her footsteps.”

In addition to her basketball exploits, McClanahan prospered in quite a few positions on the volleyball team and is obtaining another stellar season as pitcher in softball exactly where she has an arsenal of fastballs and breaking pitches.

McClanahan has labored to build all her athletics abilities by means of further-long practices and off-season analyze. She credits her father and mom (Sheila) for furnishing the function ethic.

Mark McClanahan competed in four sports at now defunct Garden Higher University, when Sheila qualified for the state observe and industry meet and performed other sports activities at Hurley.

“My mother and father have set a excellent illustration,” Lara McClanahan reported. “Dad will work in building, and leaves the household all over 4 each individual morning. Both of my dad and mom have usually been really supportive of all the things I do.”

Sheila McClanahan truly served as the Tiny League and center university softball mentor for Lara. In the course of the COVID-19 shutdown, Mark arranged a weightlifting system for Lara and set up a residence health and fitness center.

“My father is incredibly welcoming and bubbly. I guess that’s the place I get my smile and individuality from,” McClanahan stated.

The route to the prime for Lara McClanahan incorporates intensive get the job done in the classroom. In addition to compiling a 4. grade issue average and serving as a tutor, she accrued 12 university credits and has served as vice-president of her senior class.

Honaker enterprise trainer Betty Davis claimed that McClanahan created a long lasting imprint on her little college.

“Lara goes out of her way to assist most people and she’s certainly a fantastic leader,” Davis explained. “If a thing demands to get carried out, Lara requires care of it.”

Davis factors to athletics for examples of the humble and generous character of McClanahan.

“Lara is the most unselfish participant I’ve seen,” Davis mentioned. “She doesn’t treatment about stats or awards. She just desires to enable her team and teammates any way she can.”

In each and every activity and classroom, McClanahan embraced the job design tag. She plans to give additional support and empathy in her upcoming posture in nursing.

“Seeing my loved ones go by tough situations had a significant effects on me,” McClanahan said. “When I was pretty young, my aunt was diagnosed with cancer and I bear in mind her having difficulties through chemotherapy and other solutions.

“Then it was extremely challenging when my father underwent his heart surgical procedures. As I go via life, I just want to help men and women each and every way I can.”

[email protected] | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544