By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
CHOCOWINITY — A star has fallen. But the star won’t let that dim his future.
Jeremiah Marable, a three-sport star athlete at Southside High School, will only be able to watch and cheer for the Seahawks’ track team this spring.
The senior was ruled academically ineligible during basketball season after flunking two classes. Marable won’t be able to participate in track, a tough blow to the Seahawks as Marable is the defending Class 1-A state long jump champion.
Marable missed a good portion of basketball season after the semester’s grades came out. He wasn’t surprised with the results.
Marable was a football, basketball and track standout. He flew 23 feet, one-half inches, a school record, to win last year’s state long jump competition, which he said was the highlight of his prep athletic career. He also finished fourth in the 200-meter dash.
Marable, last year’s Daily News’ Male Track Athlete of the Year, also would have factored largely into this year’s relay teams. He helped the 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams to success last season.
He was a first team selection to the Daily News’ All-Area Football Team at quarterback and defensive back. Marable ran for 227 rushing yards and six touchdowns at quarterback, while adding 900 yards and eight more scores at running back.
Marable was having a solid season with Southside’s basketball team. He was averaging a double-double and was voted to the Daily News’ Holiday All-Tournament team.
The high-flying Marable was named to the Daily News’ All-Area Basketball second team as a junior.
Marable was a favorite to win the Daily News’ Male Athlete of the Year award. That’s the least of his concerns right now.
Marable will now have to battle his way to an upper echelon school.
The Southside senior had been getting looks in football from some major Division I colleges, including North Carolina and East Carolina. However, once Marable flunked his classes — Advanced Functions and DNA Technology — the calls stopped.
Marable said his parents, Donald and Teresa Marable, coaches and others in the community have been encouraging him.
Marable has his sights set on Shaw University or Methodist University, where he’s hoping to do well in school and play sports. His plan is to study sports management or recreation.
One area that could slow down Marable is that he won’t be able to train with teammates during track season. However, the senior said he’ll continue to work hard on his own.
His goal farther down the road includes a stop at Appalachian State University, where the Mountaineers are the two-time defending NCAA Division I football national champions.
While Marable is upset with himself for his work in the classroom, he said it has made him a stronger person.
He said others who may be in his situation should concentrate on their studies.
The all-around athlete may have seen his stock as a college athlete dip, but he’s going to keep working hard.
The star vows to shine again.