The athlete of the month for October is senior quarterback Kendrick Gooden.



“Kendrick has show exceptional leadership ability on this football team,” said athletic director Sean Stranger. “He has struggled through injury and displayed exceptional character.”

“I lead by example, and I’m vocal when I have to be.”

This is Kendrick’s fourth year playing football, but only his third for Timken. He did not play his sophomore year, but he played his eighth grade season for Lehman Middle School.

“Football takes up the whole summer, two and a half hours everyday after school, and its my main focus throughout the fall,” said Gooden.

“My favorite memory while playing (football) for Timken would have to be against Tusky Valley,” said the 17-year old, second year starter. “We shut out the defending Pac-7 champions (Tusky Valley), and I scored five touchdowns while doing so.”

Some of his personal goals for the season were to score 20 touchdowns (rushing and passing) and pass for over a thousand yards. So far he has 14 passing touchdowns and 5 rushing touchdowns.



“I think im playing great,” said Gooden, “but I could be better!”



Other than football, he plays forward for the basketball team and is one of the top pitchers in Stark County when it comes to baseball. He plans on going to college, but has not decided where yet. He maintains a 3.2 GPA and he wants to major in sports therapy.