CRESTVIEW — Nate Gerard's success as a Crestview High School student-athlete is sending him on a promising path.
Gerard, a catcher for the Bulldog baseball team and an offensive lineman on the football team, signed an academic scholarship with Alabama State University on Tuesday. He’ll study health sciences at the Montgomery school with his goal of one day becoming an athletic trainer.
Gerard also was the 2015 recipient of the Justin Richards Scholarship.
Further, is he’s been offered a position as an invited walk on the Division I Hornet baseball team.
“It’s something special,” Gerard said of his opportunity to play college baseball. “It’s something I have to get used to but I’m excited about it. It’s the next step of my life where I can go and excel.
“It’s very humbling (to win the Justin Richards Scholarship). It makes me feel proud to be a Bulldog.”
Crestview baseball Coach Tim Gillis said Gerard represents everything the Justin Richards Scholarship stands for.
“That award obviously goes out to guys that are high character and are well-rounded student athletes,” he said. “He fits the bill for that too. He’s hard working and dedicated to the team.
“He’s a fine student too.”
And as a player Gillis believes Gerard, who didn’t become a starter until his senior year, has what it takes to become a successful college player.
“I think that he’s got that thing a lot of people don’t have these days,” he said. “It’s a ‘never say die’ attitude. He’s always working.
“The more you work the better you are going to be and that’s what he’s going to do. In baseball you’ve always got to work on your game. He’s turned into a pretty dad gum good catcher.”
Gillis also said Gerard is always looking to swing the bat, which is something every successful hitter must do.
Gerard knows that playing Division 1 baseball will be a challenge, but it’s one he already working on.
“I have to lose some weight,” he said. “I have to get that mentality that I’m a college player. I’m going to the next level and I’m going to do something big.”
Gerard said the Hornet coaches have talked about him getting more flexible so he can swing the bat harder.
Gillis believes that playing football helped Gerard on the baseball diamond.
“I’ve always said multiple sport guys that can compete at a high level throughout the year are going to be a little bit better than others,” he said. “For him to play at such a high level in multiple sports is just a feather in his hat.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Special day for Crestview High School's Nate Gerard (VIDEO)