Born with only one arm, Smith excelled on the softball field and talked with Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson
Watch: Katelyn Smith, who was born with only one arm, was selected 2023 Breakfast of Champions Courage Athlete of the Year. She talks with the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson about playing softball, her time at Satellite High School and much more in this exclusive interview.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I recently had the pleasure of talking with Katelyn Smith, the 2023 Breakfast of Champions Courage Athlete of the Year. Katelyn was born with only one arm, but it has not slowed her down one bit.
She is a recent graduate of Satellite High School, and this past year was the leadoff batter and centerfielder for the Scorps softball team. Katelyn had a tremendous season this past year, leading the team in hitting, on base percentage, runs scored and stolen bases.
Dr. Thomas Fadul, Jr., head coach of the Satellite softball team said this about Katelyn: “Katelyn has played an integral part in our high school varsity softball program as a team leader and a role model. Katelyn has demonstrated extraordinary athletic ability, tremendous academic dedication, and a remarkable capability to lead her peers.”
Fadul went on to say, “Katelyn is a very special young lady. I asked her when she realized that she had certain challenges that others her age did not face. She told me it was around preschool age.”
She said, “OK, I’m a little bit different than everyone else, but I would always find ways to do things.” Katelyn smiled and said, “Even if it were a little bit weird or different, it worked for me.”
Katelyn said occasionally people would tell her she could not do something, but she would always find a way. She told me, “When people see me do things in a different way,” often they will say, “Wow, I didn’t think about that. I would have never thought that’s how you did that!”
For Katelyn, living with one arm is all she knows, it is not a disability. She has proven that she can adapt and overcome any obstacle thrown her way.
Katelyn will be attending Florida Atlantic University in the fall and will be studying Engineering.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018 and Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020.
Wilson is especially proud of is chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
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