The Shadow
In the world of sports, where victory is often measured by statistics, broken records, championships, and the overall number of wins, it’s often easy to get caught up in the competition, forgetting the true essence of athletic greatness. However, every now and then, an incredible story comes along to exemplify that winning is not always about the athlete who finishes first in the race. Sometimes, it’s about the athlete who finishes first in the hearts of every spectator in the stands, redefining what it truly means to win.
Fans gasped during the 1992 Summer Olympics when Derek Redmond tore his right hamstring and fell to the ground. What began as heart wrenching would go down as one of the most breathtaking moments in sports history. Tears were shed around the world when Redmond’s father, Jim, rushed to the track to help his son finish the race, at times almost carrying him. Moments like Redmond’s and the following story have a way of emerging at just the right moment to remind us that winning is not just about who crosses the finish line first, but about the character, compassion, generosity, and sportsmanship displayed along the way.
This is the tale of three extraordinary student athletes at Alleghany High School who, in their own unique ways, redefined the concept of winning by demonstrating unwavering kindness, selflessness, and camaraderie in the face of glory. Each link in this incredible chain of events —which transpired behind closed doors— was made public only after one of their parents reached out to share the story that we now have the privilege of sharing with our readers.
Many of you may recall reading about the Virginian Review’s ceremony for our annual “Athlete of the Year” awards. The “Athlete of the Year” awards started many years ago and involves nominating three athletes from each sports category, boys and girls, before publishing their names in an online vote where the public then has an opportunity to decide the overall winner. This process is done for both Alleghany High School and Bath County High School. This year, when it came time to nominate three male track/cross country student athletes, Max Madsen, Brady Prior, and Purcel Turner were chosen.
At the ceremony, the three athletes were announced and invited to the stage at the Historic Masonic Theatre. The lights shone bright as they waited patiently to learn who would take home the coveted title of “Athlete of the Year” for Boys Track/Cross Country. A hush fell over the crowd as the emcee —and Director of Operations for the Virginian Review— Susan Linton took a quick breath before announcing, “Purcel Turner.” For those of us standing on the stage alongside him, we noticed that Turner’s face had a peculiar look of surprise that didn’t match the celebratory smiles and awe of those who’d gone before him. Prior to leaving the establishment that evening, the Virginian Review would learn why from one of the parents, prompting us to reach out to the boys for an interview and let them tell their story.
In short, after leaving the stage, Purcel approached Brady and urged him to take the trophy. Why? According to Turner, “He [Brady] was the closest one to me,” the humble senior laughed. “I saw myself not deserving it as much as Max and Brady because they’ve run track for a long time, they’ve worked harder, and I felt like either one of them deserved it more than me.”
The story, inarguably inspiring and heartwarming already, doesn’t end there, however. Although Brady accepted the trophy from Purcel, he didn’t keep it for very long. Rather, Brady turned to his friend, Max, and insisted Madsen take the trophy. “I thought Max deserved it. He tore his ACL, then came back and still was able to perform. He actually performed better than I did. He worked hard and he deserved it, so I gave it to him [Max].”
“We both broke records in indoor and outdoor track,” Max said of his and Brady’s successes. “Purcel came off the stage and tried to slide me the trophy, but I didn’t want to take it… I wanted him to keep it. And afterwards, he [Purcel] just kind of forced us to take it, which I really just appreciated, that sportsmanship. I’m just grateful to have him as a friend and teammate and honestly, Brady deserved it just as much as me.”
Turner said that was the last he saw of the trophy until he left the theatre. “I was driving down the street when I saw that Max had it. So, Brady gave it to Max, which is fine. I wanted one of them to have it.”
In sports, one often hears stories of athletes fighting over a trophy. However, those are wrought with tales of squabbles, competition, and bitterness. When it comes to Purcel Turner, Brady Prior, and Max Madsen, these incredibly selfless student athletes prove that fighting over a trophy doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be a great thing!
“I’m not at all surprised that Purcel did that. He’s a good guy,” said head coach, Jeremy Bartley. “All three of those guys are standout guys and all three of them deserved to be nominated and deserved to win. As far as the ‘Athlete of the Year’ awards go, I think it’s a great thing the paper does, I hope it continues, and I hope it gets better each year.”
Athletic Director (AD) Ty Dobbs, also spoke with the Virginian Review regarding the selfless acts of the three boys. “I’ve seen the selflessness with Purcel [Turner] in football season. He did big things, but never really wanted to have the limelight on him. But he deserved it. At the same time, Max and Brady ran track, both indoor and outdoor, they’ve had huge events, huge wins. Max, he won the region yesterday. Yet, you don’t hear those kids walking around and talking about it. They’re just there for their teammates, they’re there for their teams, and they’re there for each other.”
