In Their Own Words: The Birth of the Kyle E. Wagley – Feather of Courage Scholarship

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – The fields at Reinhardt University are quiet.

With each passing day, all 23 Eagle teams wonder what the future holds, specifically fall sports – but for men's soccer – today is bright and full of hope.

With that in mind, Reinhardt Athletics would like to share the heart-felt perspective of head men's soccer coach Joey Johnson on how eleven words changed his life and eventually led to the birth of the Kyle E. Wagley – Feather of Courage Scholarship.

It was a Monday morning in March 2017, and Johnson had just arrived at the soccer office when he received a short text:

"If you would like to see Kyle, you need to come."

As a collegiate soccer coach for over twenty years, I have had the privilege of being tasked with helping instill quality characteristics in young men through the game of soccer so that they are prepared to be great husbands, fathers and members of their communities as life unfolds.

Kyle Wagley was the unique player that came into the program already possessing so many of these valuable traits. His work ethic, competitive drive, humility and leadership qualities were evident from the first day I met him. As a quiet leader and imposing defender, Kyle was a great teammate who always encouraged others while demanding more from himself.

Upon graduation, I knew I would not be surprised to see Kyle reach whatever goals he set for himself as he had developed into a great leader and a fine young man. He married his high school sweetheart Stormi; I wasn't surprised. He piloted an Apache helicopter as he served our country; I wasn't surprised.

He was promoted to higher levels of responsibility in the leadership of men; I wasn't surprised. He became a great father to a beautiful daughter; I wasn't surprised. He carried himself with dignity, tenacity and courage regardless of life circumstance; I wasn't surprised.

When I found out that Kyle had become ill, we reconnected and communicated frequently.

Kyle and his family had spent the weekend with us in our home a few months prior to receiving that Monday morning text, and I remember how much love and respect I had in my heart for him and his family as they pulled out of our driveway.

There was a short pause as I read Stormi's text that Monday morning as I struggled to comprehend the life-changing significance of those few words. I grabbed my keys off the desk, walked to the car and started driving westward. 

I arrived at Kyle's home that afternoon and we held a long embrace as his hand pulled my head down to his. I spent the remainder of the week with Kyle and count it as one of my life's greatest privileges to have been with him in his home during his final chapter of life.

When true character, strength and courage exist in a person, it is always most evident during the most challenging and difficult times that life provides.

Kyle Wagley has served as an inspiration to me personally and countless others who were fortunate to have called him a friend. I am a living testament that Kyle lived out his days with dignity, grace, strength beyond measure, unwavering love for his family and a legacy of courage that can only be earned and not given.

Three years have passed since that week, and yet on some days, it seems like just yesterday.

Kyle's memory and legacy are alive among all who knew and loved him. As time has passed, Mr. and Mrs. Wagley reached out to me about an idea to create a scholarship fund for a student-athlete who exhibited similar characteristics as a student-athlete as their son.

This outlet would serve to honor Kyle's memory and would allow his legacy to be expanded through an investment in others.

The cultivation of this vision has been several years in the making and has only come to be as a direct result of a mother and father's love for their son and their dedication to serve others through avenues familiar to their son. 

It is through these tireless efforts that the Feather of Courage Foundation was established. 

I feel privileged to share that the board of directors from the foundation has recently selected Trevor Robinson from a group of candidates as the first recipient of the Kyle E. Wagley – Feather of Courage Scholarship. 

Trevor is a defender from Dallas, Ga., who maintains a 3.4 GPA as a mathematics major with an art minor.

Quotables:
"As a rising senior, Trevor plans to pursue a career in the aviation industry upon graduation from Reinhardt. Trevor was an outstanding choice for this honor as he possesses many of the characteristics that Kyle exhibited as a player and a person. I believe he will be a great ambassador for Kyle's legacy as he moves into his final year here at RU." – Coach Johnson

"I am beyond grateful to be presented this scholarship and am honored to have been recognized for having resembled Kyle's traits. I am thankful to Mr. and Mrs. Wagley, the board from the Feather of Courage Foundation and all the supporters of Kyle's memory who made this possible." – Trevor Robinson

"Kyle's dedication to team goals was a driving factor in his development as a leader. He was dedicated to God, family, country and his activities in his community. A quiet leader, Kyle fully dedicated himself to every team he joined and became a leader others looked upon for guidance and support. This included the soccer pitch and the Army flight line. Kyle did not back down from any of life's challenges!" – Richard and Sherry Wagley

For those who may want more information on the Feather of Courage Foundation, support future scholarship efforts for Reinhardt student-athletes through personal gifts or connect with the Wagley family, all are welcome to visit www.facebook.com/FeatherOfCourage or send an email to FeatherOfCourage@gmail.com.

Regards,

Joey Johnson, Reinhardt Men's Soccer

Additionally, there is an article posted by Coach Johnson on the aforementioned Facebook page explaining the meaning and significance of the name Feather of Courage – that Mr. and Mrs. Wagley chose for the foundation (from which excerpts were used for this release). 

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For more information on Reinhardt Men's Soccer, please click here.