Walter “Wally” Watkins
- Post by: mcalibrary
- January 11, 2024
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JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE
This year’s Joseph Jazz Diminick Male Scholar Athlete is a prime example of perseverance in trying to find your niche, Wally Watkins has participated in 6 varsity sports during his career as a Mount Carmel Area student athlete. As he grew up, everyone was sure that he would become a high school baseball player. But soon after his freshman season, Wally turned to track and found the place where he would have the most success. As an 800 meter runner, Watkins would run to a 4th place finish in the District IV meet in 2007. He, along with, Mike Fletcher, Andrew Graeger, and Matt Kozloski, would finish 2nd at the Distict IV meet in the 4 x 800 meter relay in a time of 8:14.79. At the state meet, the same foursome ran an 8:10.64 in the preliminaries, qualifying for the state finals, but would finish out of the money for the 2nd consecutive year with a 12th place finish. The 8:10.64 ranks in the top 3 all-time at Mount Carmel Area.
Wally would be chosen captain of the Cross Country team in 2007 and would be recognized as a Divison II all-star. Also a three-year letter-winner in soccer, Wally would be recognized as the Schuylkill County Scholar Athlete in 2007. Wally jumped into the pool for Coach John Backes.during his 9th, 10th, and 11th years. He, along with, Bill Joraskie, Colin Menapace, and Dan Betz would be the only swimmers on the MCA boys team, but would do enough to finish 6th at the League Meet as a team. The quartet would place 5th in the free relay and 6th in the medley relay. The same group would come up with a 7th place finish at the District IV meet in the 200 freestyle relay in the time of 1:45.96, and an 8th place finish in the Medley relay in 2:03.40.
Watkins has also managed to rank 9th in his class of 111 with a 98.6 GPA and over 1450 on his SAT’s. He is a member of both the 700 and 1300 Clubs at MCA. He has been chosen as Class President as freshman, sophomore, and junior; and Student Council president in his junior and senior years. He has been involved with Odyssey of the Mind, winning the state championship with his team as a sophomore. He is involved in many community service organizations, especially with Relay for Life. He has also managed to work at Wal Mart and Lazarski’s.. Walter is the son of Amy Watkins and Walter Watkins and plans on continuing his education at Bucknell Univeristy to major in history and economics, and eventually attend Law School.