Stories

Benton Moss - Baseball

UNC I am Second — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:03:45 +0000

One of the first student-athletes UNC I am Second featured was Jacob Stallings, former catcher on UNC's baseball team and current member of the
Bradenton Marauders. Last year, Jacob Stallings often found himself the batterymate of current sophomore Benton Moss, a right-handed pitcher from Enfield, NC. Benton Moss has shone ever since stepping foot on the mound, but not just for his talent on the field. He was a Freshman All-America last year, but he also ranked in the top 5 of his class academically at Rocky Mount highschool and is a Morehead Cain scholar at Chapel Hill. In addition to academics and athletics, Benton is extremely talented musically and loves to play guitar. He even plays the music in his video testimony, which you can view below. Here Benton talks about growing up as "the good kid," facing hardship in life, and then truly coming to know the good news of His Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that God is moving in and through the life of this UNC athlete, and we are both excited and very honored to share his story.

Caitlin Ball - Women's Soccer

UNC I am Second — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:50:40 +0000

Chapel Hill native Caitlin Ball walked on to UNC’s women’s soccer team in 2011 and eventually found herself walking in faith with Christ. Over the past 2 years at Carolina, Caitlin has had an outstanding soccer career as a defender as she was named CS360’s Primetime Performer of the Week in 2011, and after overcoming an injury, she started in the remaining 13 games of the 2012 season. Not to mention, Caitlin is a National Champion, playing a part in the program’s 22^nd title.

Caitlin also excels off the field. The Political Science & Journalism major was honored with the NCAA Elite 89 award for her 3.913 GPA. She also loves serving in the community, particularly with the Special Olympics of North Carolina. Acalades aside, Caitlin’s heart for people and her loving spirit moved her to find out more about this man her teammates talked about, Jesus Christ.

Her journey began when she came to Carolina and tight-knit bonds began to form between her and her fellow teammates. Several of them attended church and were part of a weekly bible study. Although her belief set prior to Carolina was not conducive to Christian doctrine, slowly the seeds in which some of her teammates began to plant inside of her started to take root. While academically inclined by nature, Caitlin began to see another side of Christianity, one that was absent from her past. Years of textbook definitions and the pursuit of hard facts had satisfied Caitlin’s conscious for how life was “supposed” to work. Yet slowly as she began to accept invitations, open up closed doors and engage in conversations, the layers of the past were peeled back allowing for the Spirit to flow in. The Spirit then nurtured her hidden desire for the Lord. Easter weekend was a time of reflection, joy and resurrection for Caitlin that year, and it was then she gave her life to Christ. The girl who once found the most truth in secular ideology now reads, speaks and lives the truth of the Gospel. Her walk has been filled with challenges, questions, fears and leaps of faith. Despite all of the trials and tribulations, Caitlin rests on the gift of peace and faith, realizing that When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Sasha Seymore - Men's JV Basketball

UNC I am Second — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:45:23 +0000

I am Second UNC is back for a new year with new athletes and their incredible, life-changing stories. We praise God for His faithfulness and the way He is continually moving through the athletic community at UNC. Here at I am Second UNC, our mission is to tell the stories of UNC athletes who are changing countless lives and serving as living testaments to God's power and grace. These stories exist to point to the One we serve on and off the court or the field, our Savior Jesus Christ. We are kicking of 2013 with an athlete who is known by his coaches as a hard worker and ideal team mate. Sophomore Sasha Seymore is a making an incredible impact as a member of both the JV basketball team and the club soccer team here at UNC. Additionally, the North Carolina native and Moreahead-Cain Scholar ican frequently be found in the middle of countless pick-up soccer games. In fact, it was through playing pick-up soccer that Sasha grew close to two friends of differing religions. Sasha, a Christian, and his two friends, who were Muslim and Jewish respectively, recognized that soccer was a powerful force that has forged a common bond between them. Together, the three decided they wanted to support organizations in the Israel-Palestine area that use soccer as a tool to promote peace. To raise support and awareness, they decided to dribble a soccer ball from Asheville to Morehead City. From there, their UNC-based organization, Kicking Across Carolina, was born. Sasha has also spent time in Rio de Janeiro's largest favela, Rocinha, where he worked with Instituto 2 Irmanos teaching English, soccer, basketball and ultimately, inspiring kids to dream big (Read his blog here!). Sasha's love for people and his heart for service is rooted in Christ's unfailing love for us. Through peaks and valleys he's wrestled with God and come out stronger with a new trust in the plans our Father has for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" With two more years at UNC, we are so excited to see what else God has in store for Sasha!

Frankie Kelly - Men's Lacrosse

UNC I am Second — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:45:26 +0000

This week's UNC I am Second spotlight features a student-athlete who comes from a family that lives lacrosse and bleeds tar heel blue. Frankie Kelly, a sophomore business major and midfielder for the heels, is the nephew of two former tar heel lacrosse players. His father, Frank Kelly, played lacrosse at Cornell, his cousin David currently plays at Rutgers, and his cousin Pat will be a tar heel in the fall. In two years, there will be two Kelly brothers side by side on the field, as younger brother Stephen is commited to UNC. Not only is Frankie valued for his face off skills, but he is also an encourager and a strong leader for his team. His favorite thing about being a tar heel lacrosse player is the platform it gives him to influence the incredible group of guys on his team. However, he doesn't stop there. Kelly greatly influences each person he interacts with at Carolina. Beyond his team, he is part of the Carolina Leadership Academy and is also on the leadership team with Athletes in Action. His story is not one of blatant disobedience or rebellion but about the heart behind obeying the Lord and yearning to follow Christ. We hope you enjoy his video testimony below!

Tyler Zeller - Men's Basketball

UNC I am Second — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:01:42 +0000

There's not much that people don't know about this week's I am Second UNC student-athlete spotlight. He's known for what he's accomplished on the basketball court and in the classroom, but what some people may not realize is that Tyler Zeller's strength and success come from the Lord. From injuries to winning a national championship, this seven foot senior has stayed grounded through faith in Christ. The student body has watched Tyler live and play for the Lord over the past four years. His impact has been tremendous at UNC, and we know that he will continue to use his talent to glorify God wherever he goes. We hope you enjoy his video testimony below!

UNC Football

UNC I am Second — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:05:04 +0000

Seven University of North Carolina football players filed into the player's lounge at the end of Kenan Stadium last week to meet with our I am Second UNC team. Two redshirt freshmen, two sophomores, two seniors and one alumni player sat in front of the camera to share their stories, and at the end of the day, we could have had seven unique video testimonies to present. However, these seven men are united. They are united by the fact that they are part of one team, and together, they are serving one incredible God. Their journeys have been different, but they've all been led by the Lord to football at the University of North Carolina. The video below reveals how God has led them here, moved in their lives and stirred within their hearts to live and play for Him. Featuring Cameron Campbell, Jonathan Cooper, Sean Fitzpatrick, Jarrod James, Caleb Pressley, Sean Tapley and David Thornton, I am Second UNC proudly presents our first multiple athlete video. This is Carolina Football, and these are their stories.

Marisa Dobbins - Women's Track & Field

UNC I am Second — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:13:13 +0000

Fourteen years ago, a 7-year-old girl in Houston, Texas got in hit in the chest with a soccer ball, causing her heart to stop for 60 seconds. Her dad gave her CPR right there on the soccer field, and by some miracle, her life was saved. Now, Marisa Dobbins is a girl who lives her life to the fullest, putting her heart and soul into all that she does. She runs middle-distance events on UNC's track and field team, and she is this week's UNC I am Second student-athlete spotlight. To say Marisa Dobbins is well-rounded is an understatement. She is an outstanding athlete who can run 800 meters in just two minutes and nine seconds, and she was also part of the second place distance medley relay at this year's indoor track and field ACC Championship. Apart from athletics, Marisa is an exercise and sports science major; a guitar-player, piano-player and singer; and she loves to show off her skills on the dance floor (between races at track meets you would most likely find Marisa taking place in a dance off!). Marisa's heart may have stopped as a little girl on the soccer field, but her story is not only focused on the fact that Jesus made it beat again. Her story focuses on how God has given her a completely new heart; a heart that is able to love others and now boldly say, "I am His, and He is mine." This is her story, and we hope you enjoy her video below!

Hannah Daly - Women's Soccer

UNC I am Second — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:04:02 +0000

This week our UNC I am Second student-athlete spotlight features junior women's soccer player Hannah Daly. On the field this goalkeeper's focus may be to keep the soccer ball out of the net, but that is not Daly's only focus at Carolina. Hannah is an individual who truly loves God and digs deep into His word. She lives with eternal perspective and does not focus on the temporary aspects of this life; instead, her focus lies in establishing relationships, loving others and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. "Hannah cares so deeply about others," said women's soccer manager Stephanie Tan. "She cares about your heart and soul and what's really going on in your life." Her caring spirit is not only noticed on the soccer field; it's noticed by those on campus as well. Classmate Rachel Crawford, a senior studio art major and creative director of The Street Child Project, commented that she was drawn to Hannah because of her love for the Lord, noting that "she also makes you laugh...a lot." Some people may not know that Hannah is a national soccer champion or a dual citizen with Britian. They may not know that she took Kindergarten twice or loves to sing. One thing, however, is for certain: everyone who knows Hannah is able to tell without a doubt that she lives her life second to the Lord. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Timothy 1:15, and the message of this verse is communicated quite creatively in her spoken word testimony. To read her full testimony, please click here, and we hope you enjoy her story below!

David Walden - Men's Soccer

UNC I am Second — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:12:17 +0000

This week our UNC I am Second student-athlete spotlight features a sophomore soccer player who has already experienced an ACC title and a national championship victory in his two short years at Carolina. Despite this success on the soccer field, David Walden's victory does not come from the ring that will soon be on his finger: His victory is found in Christ. A midfielder from Richmond, Virginia, David was recently accepted into UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, and he is owning his faith in both the classroom and on his team. David is also a rising leader in the Athletes in Action ministry at UNC, where he has established a strong group of friends and been led in his faith by mentor Mike Echstenkamper. David Walden's story highlights the importance of community in continually growing closer to Christ and loving Him more and more. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another," and we thank David for reminding us of this incredible truth found in His word. Click here to read David's written testimony, and we hope you enjoy his video testimony below!

Jacob Stallings - Baseball

UNC I am Second — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:39:41 +0000

This week our UNC I am Second student-athlete spotlight features a senior baseball player who shines under the lights of UNC's Boshamer Stadium. A returning starter behind the plate, Jacob Stallings is one of the top catchers in the ACC. He started all 67 games last season and broke the school record for throwing out 31 base runners, ranking him third in the nation. He is also the son of Kevin Stallings, the head men's basketball coach at Vanderbilt University. Amidst his many accolades, Jacob Stallings lives his life second. He claims that he is proud to be a part of such an incredible university; a place where a relationship with Christ has led him to a life defined by confidence, security, peace and happiness. His message is simple, he claims: "I have lived when I put God second, and I have lived when I put myself second, and let me tell you, God is much better than I am at being first." If you'd like to read Jacob's full testimony, please click here, and we hope you enjoy his story below!