Classroom Champions: Troy’s Ashley Mersch

TROY, Texas (KWTX) - Troy senior Ashley Mersch is not ready to graduate from the school she loves so much.

“It’s just been an excitement to be here, to be involved with so many things,” said Mersch. “And the coaches are just amazing, and they just bring the livelihood of every sport into me.”

It’s why she played so many sports at Troy. This year, she was on the volleyball team. She’s currently playing basketball and she’s gearing up for track and field season, where she excels in throwing discus.

I really do think that Ashley is the perfect example of a multisport athlete at a small school,” said Troy track and field coach Shayla Rawls. “When you’re at a small school, you have to have kids that are willing to go outside of their comfort zone and see what they can contribute to any sport. Ashley is truly multisport.”

This spring, Mersch will have a chance to break the Troy discus school record.

“The school record is 138 ft, but I definitely want to push far and beyond to 150 ft where I can make a mark for myself,” said Mersch.

On top of her athletics, she enjoys welding. She also lives and works on a dairy farm with her family.

“Besides the 5 o’clock mornings and the cold weather right now, every cow has a different personality,” said Mersch. “They’re kind of like a dog, and we call them “fluffy puppies” because they’re just such sweet creatures.”

Mersch is ranked 26th in her class. After graduation, she wants to become a firefighter.

“The servitude that it brings that I would want to see myself in, it just brings me to want to be there for the community and everyone around me,” said Mersch.

“If I could think of a job that’s perfect for Ashley, it would be something where you’re serving others,” said Rawls. “Just a great servant heart, and that’s one thing that I’ll remember the most about her. And I know she’ll be great at whatever she does. I can only imagine how wonderful of a firefighter she will be.”

Congratulations to Ashley Mersch, you’re a Classroom Champion!

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