Page 17 - 2025 Impact Awards

David Cranfill Truehearted David Cranfill Truehearted

Teammate Awards Teammate Awards

David Cranfill was a friend to
the IHSAA for over 40 years.
He was an advertising agency
owner, a writer, a filmmaker,
and a communicator. He
worked tirelessly to promote
the purity, passion, and
enthusiasm of high school
sports until his passing in
2021. He dedicated much of
his life and energy to telling
the story of all 160,000 Hoosier
student-athletes and the life Thaiden Alexander Emma Watson
lessons they learned by Frankton Castle
playing high school athletics. David Cranfill Thaiden Alexander of Frankton High School is a four-sport athlete,
He always put his work, his participating in Cross Country, Football, Track & Field, and Wrestling
family, and his teammates first. David exemplified what during his time as an Eagle. Thaiden is pursuing a Certified EMT
certification through a Vocational class this year, while also engaging in
it meant to be a truehearted teammate. numerous school clubs, such as Student Council, National Honor Society,
Students in Action, Spanish Honor Society, and History Honor Society. He’s
described as coachable, dependable, and loyal –all qualities his tries to live
Each year, the David Cranfill Truehearted Teammate by. He’s hardworking and determined to accomplish what he sets his mind
Award is awarded to one deserving male and one on. He also recognizes the positive qualities in others. It is because of this,
through his freshman to junior season as a wrestler, Thaiden wrestled a
deserving female student-athlete who demonstrate lower weight class than he wanted so a teammate, who struggled to cut
selfless dedication to their team without expectation of weight, could remain in the lineup. Even though Thaiden had beaten him in
reward or recognition. The winners of these scholarships wrestle-offs and the weight cut was grueling, he knew his teammates
presence energized the team. It was mentally and physically draining, but it
will be selected for having exhibited loyalty and was the right choice for the team, as a whole.
faithfulness by putting their teammates, coaches, Emma Watson of Castle High School is a two-sport athlete, participating in
school, and community above themselves. Tennis and Volleyball in her time as a Knight. She is a part of the
National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Student
Athletic Council. Despite the pressure of having her father as the head
volleyball coach and her mother as the head tennis coach, Emma remained
unaffected in both her performance as a player and her role as a teammate.
She separated family dynamics from her athletic commitments. Emma
focused on building strong bonds with her teammates and becoming
someone they could always rely on by consistently lifting them up and
celebrating their success. She plans to turn her leadership philosophy of
encouragement, positivity, and consistency into a successful coaching
career one day.

16 IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards IHSAA Foundation Impact Awards 17