Bay City, Michigan – Robbie Ballard has seen rain clouds in his own way.
But he soon saw a silver lining.
Given a sad scenario, he finds his happy place. Amid the daunting experience, he discovers moments of comfort.
The Bay City All Saints senior loves to look on the bright side.
“He's always trying to motivate his teammates,” All Saints bowling coach Jen Grandmaison said. “He's very motivating.
“Any coach will tell you they're lucky to have that kid on their team.”
Both All Saints coaches have had the pleasure of seeing Ballard compete in both bowling and basketball this season for the Cougars. Now, he concludes an action-packed winter campaign with the honor of MLive Bay City Athlete of the Week.
Ballard received 43.4 percent of the 46,300 votes cast in the final season voting, winning the voting battle with Ogemau Heights girls basketball player Natalie Summerfield with 39.6 percent.
Ballard took on the challenge of being a dual-sport athlete this winter, diving wholeheartedly into two situations that can be discouraging to many athletes.
Although he was a bench player and had limited basketball minutes, he stuck with the game and earned back-to-back appearances as a member of the North Central Sam League Stripes Division championship team. He also remained loyal to the bowling team despite being dismissed on his first try.
“That's a testament to Robbie's character. He's always looking for the positive,” Grandmaison said. “Even when he's struggling, he never gets down. He always comes back and does his best in every game, every frame. He may be disappointed, but that's what he does. He doesn't allow it to affect his overall outlook. He's always encouraging his teammates.”
Ballard served as the Cougars' team captain in bowling. With a league average batting average of .151, he didn't have the best season due to injuries and limited practice time. However, he always remained a strong role model for the team.
“Even in basketball, he worked hard and came to practice. Even if it was 45 minutes, he would get there,” Grandmaison said. “And when he's there, he's there to do the job. He puts in the time and effort and is willing to try new things.”
He capped his three-year varsity bowling career in style with a career-record 268 games in the district tournament.
Ballard brought the same positive qualities to the basketball program throughout his high school career. His impact wasn't measured by points or rebounds, but by his attitude and effort.
“He gave everything, even though he knew he wasn't a top player and wasn't going to get the most minutes,” Grandmaison said. “He still left his heart on the floor every time he went out.”
More than anything, Ballard wanted to get involved and soak up all the experience possible to make the most of his senior season. He had a breakout season as a defensive end in football, helping the Cougars win their first league title in 20 years, and continued to excel in winter sports.
“We are proud of the growth he has shown on the basketball court since his freshman year. His dedication has been outstanding,” All Saints basketball coach Jason Brzezinski said. “He embraced the opportunity to be a two-sport athlete and did a great job of balancing both.”
MLive Player Voting is a non-scientific endeavor designed to promote fun, fandom, and discussion. There are no prizes for winners and results do not affect postseason awards.
Want local high school sports news delivered to your inbox every day for free? click here Sign up for local high school sports newsletters.
Do you love reading about local sports? Don't miss out on the excitement of the upcoming season. Purchase your subscription now Get complete access to all stories on MLive!
