MARIANNA, Fla. (WMBB) – This week’s Scholar Athlete of the Week sponsored by Perry and Young P.A. is Marianna’s Kennedy Temples.

Marianna High School senior, Kennedy Temples has spent much of her life on or around a softball diamond, an early passion that she said has turned into more than she could have ever imagined.

“I feel so grateful for softball in every way,” Temples said. “It has shaped me into the person that I am today in every aspect. Learning how to work with different people and learning how to improve my people skills and talk to other people, but also in different ways, like learning how to grind and work for the things that I want.”

While only becoming the Bulldog’s starting pitcher as a junior, Temples has already tallied over 500 career strikeouts and she set the program’s single-season strikeout record last year.

Prior to this spring, she was recognized as one of the top 15 high school pitchers in Florida, and her coach, Tory Hussey said she is the heart and soul of the team.

“She loves to compete, and that’s what I love the most about watching her,” Hussey said. “She’s faced some really talented teams this year, really good teams, and she’s never flinched from the competition. It’s just fun to watch because that’s something that you really can’t coach in a kid.”

The hard work has translated off the field as well, as Temples said academics are her top priority. She holds a 4.0 GPA and has a rigorous dual enrollment schedule, which is just a part of the standard she aims to uphold.

“I always love to set the bar high and almost to the point where people believe that I can’t do it because it always gives me something to strive for and be working for,” Temples said. “And I may sometimes be in over my head, but that’s just the kind of person that I am. I’m always going to strive for the next thing in life.”

As graduation approaches, Temples’ thoughts are drifting toward the future. Her competitive nature has her chasing after her three older siblings.

“My oldest sister, she’s going to be a nurse and ethicist,” Temples said. “She’s in an esthetics school right now in Panama, and my sister Chloe is trying to get into med school right now. And then my brother, he’s the oddball he works in government and business and all of that.”

Temples already knows where she will attend college, as she signed a softball scholarship with Division One Stetson University in November. She said she has not exactly pinned down what career field she wants to pursue.

“I haven’t decided if I want to do medical or pre-law yet because Stetson has a great law program,” Temples said. “So I am leaning also towards that right now.”

With a week and a half remaining in the softball regular season, Temples still hopes to continue making an impact at Marianna and lead her team on a deep playoff run.

“I cannot wait to see what Marianna High is able to do in this postseason,” Temples said. “I truly do believe in our coaching staff and this team and I know that we’re going to do great things this year.”