Maddie Padgett and Alec Henderson have been honored as the 2016-2017 senior athletes of the year at Christiansburg High School. The two were recognized during a senior awards ceremony at the school this past week.
Henderson is headed to Concord University to continue his football career. He said Concord felt like home when he visited several times this fall.
“The coaching staff and team alike welcomed me with open arms. I already love these teammates and the coaching staff, they really care for each other and push each other to be their best, very good people that I want to surround myself with and play for. It is also a great school, not massive, and not far from home at all. Plus, out of all the teams that expressed their interest in me, they showed that they wanted me the most,” he said.
Henderson’s mother graduated from Concord so he has a second generation connection to the school.
The 6-1, 218 running back tallied over 700 yards rushing for a Christiansburg team that its ups and downs this past season. He also led the Blue Demons from his linebacker position with 100 total tackles and was first team all-conference and all-county/all-city first team.
Henderson has also been heavily involved in many Fine Arts activities while a student at CHS.
Padgett will attend Roanoke College where she run track and field. She was the indoor state high jump champion with a leap of 5-2.
“I started jumping in seventh grade and really have loved it since,” she said.
The Christiansburg senior has been steady jumping at 5-0 for a while, but is now working on her technique that could push her to 5-4 in the outdoors this spring. That mark could give her another state title.
