TAMPA, Fla. — It’s still dark outside when Adrian Nealy begins her day.

A flag football practice before school starts is all this Steinbrenner High senior needs to set the tone for the day.

“I actually like morning practices, believe it or not,” Adrian said. “I enjoy getting it out of the way before school.”

What You Need To Know

  •  Adrian Nealy stars on the Steinbrenner High flag football team

  •  She is also one of Steinbrenner's top students with a 5.5 weighted GPA

  •  Adrian plans to major in biomedical engineering at FAMU

Flag football does more than just set a tone for Adrian. This sport has given so much to her, including a way to stay in shape and confidence. She’s learned a lot about herself on the football field.

“When I have a good practice, it’s a good day,” she said. “A hard practice, it’s a little rougher, but it’s easy enough to bounce back because it’s so early.”

That attitude carries over into the classroom where Adrian is one of Steinbrenner’s top students. With a class schedule crammed with mostly AP classes, Adrian boasts a 5.5 weighted GPA. She also spreads her community activism wings as the vice president of the Black Student Union.

“She was a finalist for the Bill Minahan Award this year, something that is an award that’s so special to me because I think it truly embodies the full student athlete,” head coach Gregg Puskas said. “And to be someone who is considered one of the finalists for that award, you have to be pretty special.”

Special only begins to describe Adrian. Her personality is infectious. She enjoys spreading her love of flag football and mentors some of the younger players. These life lessons she’s learning on the flag football field are going to serve her well later in life.

“Attention to detail, being a team player,” she said. “You have to be really good working with others. Communicating, which I’m not the best at, but I’m learning. On the field and off the field.”