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Gulf's McCullough Is A Quiet Leader

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By CLIFF GILL

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 29, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - She might be just 5 feet, 2 inches tall, but Gulf High senior Jamie McCullough often comes up big in crucial softball games.

As a sophomore, her .525 batting average and her two home runs earned her junior varsity MVP honors. Later that season, she was promoted to the varsity squad.

"Jamie has always played bigger than her size," said varsity coach Rick Hohenthaner. "With the score tied in the bottom of seventh inning versus rival Springstead, I called on her to pinch-hit. She sent a deep fly ball off the wall in left field for the game-winning hit. By the way, it was her first varsity hit.

"Soon afterwards, she began her drive to become a starting varsity second baseman. When her senior year began, we suddenly found a need for a right fielder. Again, Jamie proved her talent ran deeper than most and moved to right field to fill a need for her team. These are examples of the leadership skills a quiet team player possesses.

"When you have a player who attends all practices, conditioning drills and offseason meetings, you have the makings of a terrific future leader."

BASH travel coach Patty Cain also heaped praise upon the 17-year-old McCullough.

"Jamie's determination for success brought her out to the field early on a regular basis for additional fielding and hitting practice," Cain said. "Offensively, Jamie possessed unexpected power for her small stature. She was often taken lightly due to her size, but came through with much power at crucial times. In the summer of 2007, she helped us advance to the next level of a tournament by belting a walk-off home run to win the game. She was also part of the 2008 BASH softball team that attended the 2008 ASA National Championship in Moline, Ill."

McCullough is a home-run hitter in the classroom as well. An International Baccalaureate student, her 4.57 grade-point average ranks third at Gulf. She averages more than 30 hours of homework per week.

"My ultimate goal is to attend medical school," McCullough said. "Two years ago, I received a medical encyclopedia for Christmas. My mom taught me to see everything as a challenge. Since I was young, my mom always told me, 'You can do it, you can do it.'"

Her teachers also have recognized her commitment.

"Jamie is a leader of the International Baccalaureate Program's inaugural class, where she is required to do 150 hours of service for the IB diploma," said social studies teacher Claudia Alwood. "She has done three times the required amount. She is an outstanding student-athlete and a caring individual. Plus, she is fun to have in class."

Since second grade, she has volunteered to work with special-needs students. She works a booth annually for Relay For Life. Last year, the Florida Holocaust Museum awarded her the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award. Rochester University awarded her the Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass Humanitarian Award for her community service.

"Jamie is an outstanding student," said Gulf principal Steve Knobl. "In addition to being a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program, she has an extremely high GPA, is a talented softball player and is a student leader in our school. She is focused and driven to succeed."

Teachers, coaches: If you would like to nominate an outstanding student-athlete to be featured in an upcoming In The Community article, contact Cliff Gill at reportercliffgill@yahoo.com or (727) 860-4903.

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