Elysian Fields volleyball libero Taylor Youngblood was honored at the school's weekly pep rally as the Class 2A Built Ford Tough Female Athlete of the Month for September. Matt Moore of Marshall Ford presented the award.
Youngblood is one of three East Texas winners. Carly Chadwick of Pine Tree won for Class 4A, and Emma Goetz of Grace Community won in the private schools category. According to the report, four Marshall-area athletes have received the award since it began in the 2023-2024 school year.
Coaches nominate athletes, and a committee votes in each classification, according to the report. Jack Stallard of the Longview News-Journal, a member of the Built Ford Tough board, sends the nomination request to East Texas coaches. Youngblood said she did not know she had been nominated. "It felt pretty great to be recognized in front of everyone," she said.