By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
Seventeen-year-old Emily Lyons is a senior at Lafayette High School (LHS) in Mayo. Lyons is a member of four teams for the varsity Lady Hornets, including volleyball, basketball, softball and weightlifting. She's begun her school year by being on the volleyball court. Later in the year, she'll change her uniform to play basketball, then quickly trade in her basketball sneakers for softball cleats and weightlifting shoes. What each pair of these shoes share is they all get traded out every day for boots for her to use while working on her family farm, whether by bailing hay, running a peanut combine, grooming and training her show pig or feeding the farm's chickens.
Lyons is the daughter of Chris and Kelly Lyons and the sister to Krista, Kelby-Grace and Lydia. In addition to her extracurriculars and sports at LHS, Lyons is a Youth Camp Counselor at Camp Connexion and Airline Sports Camp and a local volunteer because she has a passion for youth. She is also an active member of Riverside Baptist Church. At LHS, Lyons is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Farmers of America and National Society of High School Scholars.
This season, the LHS student body has taken a particular interest in the Lady Hornets volleyball team, which is peppered with talent throughout the lineup. Lyons is a dominating force on the volleyball court and relishes the idea of striking fear in her opponents as she goes up for a kill that goes unanswered more often than not. A big part of the buzz is when Lyons' teammate, Haley Rosenbaum, sets up an opportunity for her to come from way back and fly to the net for a Lady Hornets kill, causing the student section to stand with anticipation and scream "Boom."
Lyons tries not to get caught up in the hype that surrounds her and her volleyball team, even when praise comes from opposing coaches. Her calm, quiet confidence comes from a quote she clings to, which is: "Don't tell them you're going to be successful, show them." No matter how successful she may be on the court, it all results from preparation. One of her favorite quotes is from Jerry Rice, which reads: "Today I do what others won't, so tomorrow I do what others can't." To Lyons, there is no such thing as hard work; there is only work. Her perspective is, if she is going to take the time to do something, she needs to do it with all she has or don't do it at all, a lesson she has learned by watching and working alongside her mother, father and sisters on their farm. Unfortunately, for opposing teams, that same dedication is given to her volleyball career and the results rarely go in their favor.
Lyons gives credit to her uncle for being the most significant influence in her life and on the court. "My Uncle Dale is my biggest influence, because I know what it means when he sees me giving my all," Lyons said. With her Uncle Dale as her driving force, combined with her desire to win and her love of volleyball, Lyons refuses to let anyone down, which is another trait she attributes to her raising. "Whether it is school-work, helping at church camps or on our farm doing things like rolling hay, working cattle or tending to chickens, some days you think you will never finish or make it; but, you push through, because so many people are counting on you," Lyons said. "It's like in sports, when you push through the extra set, play another quarter or work through another inning; it may be the last jump to put it down or that last kill that wins the game, but you do it because your teammates are counting on you."
Lyons understands the platform sports has given her in her small town, knowing younger girls may be looking up to her as an example, much like her younger sister does. The path set before her has taught her many things and, if she were to give advice to her underclassmen, it would be to "Keep God first, stay strong and be consistent. Stay humble and kind, be nice to everyone." To her teammates who she will leave behind next year, Lyons advises to "Get on those box jumps; never be satisfied and always strive to be more."
Her relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, is her map through life. While others may try to earn the approval of others, she only needs the approval one. "Audience of one or 'AO1' is written on my shoe, because I am playing for God and his audience is all I need," Lyons said proudly.
Lyons knows this journey will one day come to an end and, when that day comes, she will carry many memories and lessons with her throughout the rest of her life. "I have several, but none more important than when I've gotten to play on the court with two of my sisters, Krista and Kelby-Grace," Lyons said. What she will cherish the most about sports isn't the number of wins or titles, but rather the moments she shares with her dad watching game film.
While the memories are hers to carry, her legacy is for others to remember. She strives to leave behind an honest, caring and thoughtful legacy. On the court, she hopes she leaves behind the legacy of a fierce competitor and good teammate.
As she continues through life, she will create many friends, but the friendships she has built up to this point are the friendships she will always cherish. The trio of Rosenbaum, Brooklyn Flemming and Lyons has created a special bond because of sports, as they have all played together since the sixth grade. They have shared the highs and lows of emotions over the years and they know that each of them will be there for one another, no matter what.
Lyons doesn't know what the future holds for her, but she hopes to become an early childhood educator, in addition to helping run her family's farm and, eventually, taking over as a volleyball coach at LHS.