Student Athlete of the Week – Layla Joy

Palm Springs senior running back/edge rusher Layla Joy is this week's student athlete of the week.

"Every snap of every play on both sides of the ball, the kid just won't come off the field, she just goes 100%," head coach Mark Abercrombie said.

Layla Joy, an athlete who plays until the whistle blows, has always had a passion for continuing to be the best, but her purpose goes beyond the field.  

"I'm very grateful to share the field with my sister," Joy said. "She's like my best friend, and I encourage her to do it with me."

 Beyond the family ties and treating her team like a second family, Joy couldn't be where she is today without the people in charge. 

"I think we have a very good relationship," Joy said. "I love both of my coaches, and I feel like they always push me to be better and improve."

While Joy might be a quiet leader, her actions speak louder than her words, and this has not gone unnoticed by her coaches.  

"She's self-driven, and as a coach, you can't teach that," coach Abercrombie said. "You know, you can teach in the X's and O's, but you can't teach that motivation and that self-motivation, and she has it every single day of every game."

In coach Abercrombie's 13-year coaching career, he believes that Joy has set the standard for the girls' flag football team at Palm Springs High.

"It's almost once in a career for a coach to have somebody who is such a amazing athlete, a great person," coach Abercrombie said. "You know, as coaches coach, I couldn't ask for a better standout leader on this team." 

We are always looking for Student-Athlete of the Week nominations. If you know a senior who should be featured next, be sure to contact the KESQ sports department.

The Student-Athlete of the Week segment airs every Tuesday.