Honoring Excellence Beyond the Play: Gratitude and a path forward

At Ball to Life, we believe that sports have the power to shape lives in powerful, lasting ways. It’s why we created the Beyond the Play – Player Spotlight—to honor student-athletes who not only excel in their sport but also live, act, and compete with integrity, leadership, and heart. These athletes go beyond the play, setting an example for their teams, schools, and communities.

We’ve been blessed to recognize two exceptional young men so far—Caleb Kitelinger and Kaden Strang. Both of these student-athletes embody what it truly means to go beyond the scoreboard. Their stories have shown us the powerful impact this spotlight can have, not only on the athletes we honor but on those inspired by their example.

Kaden Strang with Beyond the Play Player Spotlight award
Caleb Kitelinger with Beyond the Play Player Spotlight award

We Need Your Help

As we look ahead to the 2025-2026 school year, we are excited to announce that we will continue the Player Spotlight. We plan to recognize four high school seniors who demonstrate what it means to go Beyond the Play. But we can’t do this alone.

We’re asking for the support of parents, coaches, teachers, and school administrators to help us find these student-athletes. If you know a senior who leads with character, shows respect, lifts others up, and represents their school and sport in the right way—we want to hear about them.

Nominate a Student-Athlete

We’ve made it easy to nominate deserving athletes through our Beyond the Play – Player Spotlight Nomination Form. This form is now live on our website.

👉Click Here to make a Nomination!

Help us recognize those who are built different—those who show us all what it truly means to lead through sports and life. These young athletes deserve to be seen, supported, and celebrated.

Let’s keep this spotlight shining.

With gratitude,
Howard Blalock
Founder, Ball to Life

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author avatar
Howard Blalock
I'm Howard Blalock—Coach, Dad, Pops and founder of Ball to Life. My passion is helping kids discover the life-changing power of sports. This passion drives my support of athletes, parents, and coaches in keeping sports connected to personal growth—and helping to ensure as many kids as possible are provided the chance to experience the power of sports.

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