Stories
by Bob Menzler
by Parents, Bill and Nicki
by Lloyd Price
Bill plays football for Ringgold High School. My daughter is a cheerleader there. This season I'm watching these games and a lineman is out there with a cast on his right wrist playing. I asked my daughter who he was after the game. Believe me he held his own handling the bigger guys on the other team. She told me his name, but she said don't worry about the wrist, that he plays with a prosthetic leg. He was born with this defect and was fitted with a prosthetic leg at one year old and never looked back.
He is truly a leader on and off the field. He earned a starting position his first year on varsity. Please consider this young man. I can think of no one better that deserves this award. Marnich never makes excuses. When the team runs, he runs. When the leg slips out of position, he adjusts it.
"He's got a great internal drive," Ringgold coach Jeff Petrucci said. "We all should have his internal drive. There's nothing phony about Billy Marnich. He's the real deal."
Marnich, the only returning letterman, earned a starting job this season in his second year on the varsity. Two years ago, he played on the freshman team, but he was forced to sit out last season after he tore the ACL in his left knee on the first day of camp. Marnich, who owns a 3.8 grade-point average and is taking five advanced-placement classes, wants to play football in college.
"I think no one on the field wants to be the best player as much as I do, " Marnich said.
As for his story, it's not widely known that he plays on a prosthetic leg. He's not ashamed or embarrassed. He just doesn't want any pity or attention.