It is hard enough to be a standout in two sports, but to play both sports at the same time adds even more of a degree of difficulty. Needwood Middle School eighth-grader Mason Palmer has met that challenge and then some, playing baseball and soccer for the Warriors while excelling in the classroom as well.
This school year, Palmer played soccer at the Glynn County Recreation Department in the fall, then in spring played half of the baseball season and most of the soccer season for Needwood.
“Mason Palmer is a phenomenal athlete who juggled both baseball and soccer during the same time, working out with his two coaches when he would be able to practice, and play, with each team,” Needwood soccer coach Robert Cannon says.
At 5’7” and 110 pounds, Palmer uses his speed on the soccer pitch, where he is a right wing and center striker for Coach Cannon’s Warriors. He also played part-time as a pitcher and shortstop for Coach Doug Hood’s baseball team.
“This year, I was going back and forth on practices and games depending on which team needed me more,” Palmer says.
He finally decided to concentrate on one sport, and it is an understatement to say that his heart lies with soccer. Palmer will attend Brunswick High School next year, where he plans to concentrate on soccer and hopes to play as a freshman for Coach Andrew Madden’s Pirates’ squad. He is working hard to help make that dream a reality.
“To improve myself as a player, I spend a lot of time by myself training and practicing on what I need,” he says.
Palmer got started in sports and scored his first goal while he was still in first grade. He played soccer and baseball for the Glynn County Recreation Department from the age of 6 until he was in seventh grade, and then played school baseball at Needwood Middle as well. He was voted the Most Valuable Player for his team in 2014 and was named captain of the All-Star team last year.
“My first big play was when I scored three goals against another All-Star team from McIntosh County,” he says.
Along with the victories, Palmer also recalls some tough losses. He recalls playing an All-Star game against a powerful Wayne County recreation team that beat them 11-1 in 2013. Losses like that build character and add an incentive to work harder.
“Palmer adds leadership, drive and heart to the team,” Coach Cannon said. “His strength and determination are the strongest parts of his game along with his ability to work with teammates on and off the pitch. It is truly amazing, as skilled as he was to begin the season, to see how much he has grown. He takes instruction and criticism very well.”
Palmer credits his coaches who, over the years, have taught him the basics of the game. The son of James and Kimberly Stevenot, he holds a 3.86 grade point average and is especially fond of math. He is taking high school courses in addition to his regular middle school classes at Needwood and maintaining high marks in all of them.
“The career or major I think I would like to pursue in college is exercise and sports science,” Palmer says.
Away from school, he is much like any other teen. He can be found on the phone, hanging out with friends or playing soccer. He has seen the bright lights and big cities of New York and Washington, D.C. on school trips, but hopes one day to visit Madrid, Spain, home of his favorite team, Real Madrid FC. One of his heroes is the team’s star player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Because of where he came from, and how he came to be one of the best players in soccer today,” he explains.
His ultimate sports dream would be to play in Spain’s Liga BBVA, the country’s top soccer league. For now, he is concentrating on his academics and, of course, soccer.
“My favorite part of soccer is the excitement and tension in playing the games, and being with my team,” he says. “A team becomes like a family to you, whether it’s a few weeks or for months.”
Favorites:
Snack: A mix of dark chocolate, cashews, almonds, and pecans.
Food: Either nachos, pizza, or steak.
College Team: North Carolina for their soccer.
TV show: Blue Bloods
Movie: When The Game Stands Tall,
Pets: Two dogs
Car: Mercedes Benz S-Class Coupe.
SE-0416-RS-Palmer
Mason Palmer
Choosing His Path
Needwood Middle School
By Rob Asbell
