Few student-a
thletes exemplify the qualities that comprise a great scholar, athlete, and leader. With all of the pressures and distractions associated with high school, one could easily get lost in the whirl of carefree teenaged wisdom. It’s hard to imagine a young man with the will to excel in the classroom, the determination to compete in a sport like football, and the responsibility to hold down a job in his free time. But Tift County High School is home to one such academic athlete in Austin Mangelsdorf.
The senior hits the books just as hard as he hits his opponents on the field, and his passion is evident both in the classroom and on the field. He works hard, he studies hard, he plays hard, and his goals and aspirations are squarely centered in family, pride, and dignity.
On the football field last year, the Tift County coaches shuffled Manglesdorf around quite a bit. He started out at tight end, but he also played fullback and defensive end before the season was over. At 6’3” and 215 pounds, he looks like a tight end. But in South Georgia football, big guys who hit hard provide vast opportunities beyond pass completions or yards gained on the ground. In this case, the coaches quickly realized Mangelsdorf’s ability to create additional yards by providing key blocks.
This year, the senior Blue Devil is playing left tackle, which many would call the most important position on the field. He believes that his experience last year as a lead blocker will serve well when it comes to protecting his quarterback or creating a crease for a running back to slip through. Manglesdorf loves to deliver bone-crushing hits, and he says that the transition from last year’s multiple roles to the left tackle position should be seamless.
He knows that his team competes in one of the toughest regions in the state, 1-AAAAAA, and there is never a day off once football season arrives. But he is excited to compete against the best high school football programs in Georgia. Manglesdorf said, “We’ve been working hard during the offseason, and our coaches have been preparing us for any team that we have to face. I think we’re ready to take on any team in our region, and I’m pretty confident about it.”
He sees himself as a leader this year. He sees his teammates as brothers, and he wants to help the younger players to learn and contribute to the team. He teaches from his past experience, and shares his mistakes and successes in the hopes that the team will gain understanding and perform at a higher level.
But his confidence reaches beyond Blue Devil Stadium on a Friday night; the senior maintains that same attitude when it comes to his success in the classroom. The 4.0 student believes that if you work hard and stay focused, dedication will pay dividends in the long run. The young man has plenty to distract him. In addition to football and school, Manglesdorf has worked at a restaurant in Tifton for over a year. While many of his peers are looking for a good time with little regard for tomorrow, this senior left tackle from Tift County imagines a future where he is able to provide for his family. “I always try to do my best,” he said. “Whether it be school, football, or just a hobby, I always push myself to be the best I can be.”
His academic and football ambitions collide when it comes to life after high school. Manglesdorf comes from a family full of University of Georgia Alumni. So, as his senior season approaches, the Blue Devil dreams of Saturdays clad in red and black between the hedges at Sanford Stadium. In terms of academics, he would choose Georgia, as well. He wants to carry on the family tradition as a Dawg, but he understands that a scholarship would be the ideal situation. If a college other than UGA offers, Mangelsdorf would gladly take the opportunity to play at the college level. However, if he makes it to Georgia on his grades alone, the aspiring Bulldog plans to test his mettle and try out for the football team.
He plans to study pre-med in the hopes of one day becoming a doctor of sports medicine and spending many more Friday nights on some South Georgia sideline, cheering on and encouraging other young minds while helping injured players to recover quickly and return to the field. Like the life he lives today, Manglesdorf’s goal is to strike a fine balance between football, academia, and family.
Favorite Subject: Math
Least Favorite Subject: English
Coke or Pepsi: Coke
Last Book You Read: The Scarlett Letter
Favorite Team: New Orleans Saints
Favorite Player: Tim Tebow
If you had a million dollars, how would you spend it: I’d give some to charity, and I’d put my mom and dad in a new house. Then, I’d use the rest for my family and give them things they wanted.
Academic Athlete / South Georgia / July 2014
Austin Mangelsdorf
Tift County High School
Blue Devil with a Heart of Gold
