Athlete of the Week: Lakelyn Grasty

Lakelyn Grasty has been engrained in the White County girls’ basketball program since she was young, and with this being her last year as a Warriorette, she is determined to continue engraining herself in the program.

The name “Lakelyn Grasty” has always been a named passed around the community, whether it’s about her own personal accomplishments or the trophies she wins with her teammates.

Going all the way back to her eighth-grade year, Grasty and her teammates made it all the way to the 2022 TMSAA Class AAA Girls’ Basketball State Tournament Championship. Entering high school, she made varsity and already started contributing to the game. She was awarded All-Freshman Team for District 7-AAA.

Grasty officially began to be a starter her sophomore year. In her first year starting, she helped the team make it to Sub-State. Grasty continued to help the following year to make an appearance at the “Glass House.”

In her junior season, she was named District 7-AAA Defensive Player of the Year and 2nd Team All District. She led the team in assists with 129 for the season, and she shot 72% at the free throw line.

Recently, Grasty received All-Tournament in the Frank’s Christmas Shootout, where she dropped her season record.

So far in her senior season, she is leading the team in assists per game with 3.5, and she has 42 in total. Grasty is also leading the team in free throw percentage with 89%.

Grasty talked about what she loved about being a Warriorette.

“I love playing at WCHS because we have such a special team and a coach [Michael Dodgen] that cares just as much as we do.”

A majority of the girls on the White County High School basketball team has played alongside her since as far as elementary, and Dodgen has been in her life just as long with her being best friends with his daughter, Addison Dodgen.

“I will miss everything, playing with the same girls, all the memories and trips we take, and especially having a coach that wants me to succeed to my fullest potential,” Grasty said.

Coaches can make an impact on an athlete’s career and that saying is true for her. Grasty talked about who made impacts on basketball career. “

“Coach Dodgen taught me the love of the game, and that it’s more than just basketball,” she said.

Grasty mentioned other life lessons she was taught while playing basketball.

“Also, my mother taught me I can do anything as long as I put in the work,” she said.

Basketball is the only sport she plays, so, during off season, she is continuously practicing and working to get better. Grasty also plays AAU in the summer.

All her hard work has paid off in the end. She plans to attend the Air Force Academy and play for the Lady Falcons.

Grasty has made her mark in the White County girls’ basketball program, and, after high school, she will embed another one in her college program.