E.D. White’s Stock has proven herself on and off the courts

Senior Kathryn Stock walked out of the E.D. White Lady Cardinals locker room following a basketball game against Central Lafourche holding her senior jacket.

The leather-sleeved memento tells the story of the 17-year-old’s career at the Thibodaux school.

From sleeve-to-sleeve and across the entire back, the jacket is covered with patches commemorating Stock’s accomplishments.

Whether as a member of the Lady Cardinals’ volleyball or basketball team, Stock will certainly have left her mark by the time she graduates in May.

Stock has taken part in five E.D. White volleyball state championship games, winning one. She’s earned numerous All-District, All-Region and even All-State selections. She was named District MVP, Division III MVP and was also named the ESPN Gatorade Rise Louisiana Volleyball Player of the Year, handed out to the best player in the state.

“It was an awesome feeling,” she said of the ESPN Gatorade nod. “It was really unexpected, so I was certainly shocked when I got the call. When Coach (Mary Cavell) told me, we were both like ‘woo.'”

On top of that, she’s given the Lady Cardinals basketball team a dominant inside presence on the court, leading them to the playoffs in the process and has them competitive once again this season.

At the same time, she has had to cope with being a full-time high school student, and has kept her grades a top priority.

“At times it can really get tiring,” the 17-year-old said. “But at the same time I don’t like sitting around the house doing nothing. It keeps me busy.”

Even in her free time she is often doing something sports-related, playing with friends or even family.

When she is on the court, Stock’s playful attitude becomes a little more serious. Lady Cardinals head basketball coach Darrin Fontz said it’s hard to catch Stock without a smile on her face, unless she is in the middle of action on the court.

“She’s a special talent,” the coach said. “She’s a leader for us on the court. Athletes like her don’t come around very often, but we’re glad to have her while we do.”

Stock’s talents became evident to her parents at a young age. Her father, Greg, said a large part of his daughter’s success is a credit to her attitude.

“She’s a hard worker and she stays focused on her task at hand,” the elder Stock said. “She’s very coachable and strives to do her best at everything she does. I couldn’t be any more proud of her.”

“She gets it from her mother’s side,” he added jokingly.

As a kid Stock took up volleyball and began to inherit a love for it. While basketball was still a large part of her life, she found her interest shift more towards volleyball.

Some of her relatives had played both basketball and volleyball, so Stock followed, and ended up developing a love for it.

Now, years later, she is content with everything she has accomplished in her career, and believes she’s made the right decisions.

“I’m really grateful for everything I was able to experience,” she said. “I’m more of a volleyball person now though. I’ve inherited a whole new family by being a part of that team. I like basketball, but my love is volleyball.”

“Without athletics,” she added, “my school experiences probably wouldn’t have been as fun.”

As with most high school athletes who achieve on the court, Stock has begun thinking about her future. Her original plans had her going to Utah to possibly play volleyball at BYU. however, a sudden change of heart has her going the more manageable junior college route.

“I’ve been talking to a number of scouts and sent them tape,” she said. “It’s just a matter of them making a decision on me. Whatever is meant to be, will be.”

Her father added, “We’re taking it slow. It’s her decision, and we want whatever is in her best interest.”

Until then however, Stock is focused on finishing her senior year strong. She still has an entire district season of basketball left before she even worries about college.

“I’m just having fun,” she says smiling. “I’ve been able to achieve things I could have never thought. I’ve been blessed.”

E.D. White’s Kathryn Stock has excelled on the basketball court, whether as a member of the Lady Cardinals volleyball or basketball team. The senior is looking into the junior college route as a collegiate volleyball player. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER