Star Student Athlete: Meet Andover's Tyler Russell

ANDOVER, MA — We all know student-athletes who also bring their A-game to other parts of their lives.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We're working to let all your neighbors know the individual stories behind the leaderboard.

This submission comes from Sheri Russell who nominated Tyler Russell of Andover.

Russell is a junior at The Gow School in New York, where he plays varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse. He had to overcome many tragedies in his life, including the loss of both parents by the age of 13.

Star student athlete’s name

Tyler Russell

Star student athlete’s home state

Massachusetts

Star student athlete’s Patch town

Andover

How do you know the star student athlete?

I am his aunt and legal guardian

What sport does the star student athlete play?

Soccer, Basketball and Lacrosse

Why do you believe the star student athlete should be recognized?

Tyler has overcome hardships that most people never witness in their entire lifetime. By the age of 13, both his mother and father had passed away tragically. He was living in a home where drugs were used and sold for many years. And with that, he experienced many atrocities including death, murder, violence and neglect.

He is a child with dyslexia and ADHD. Yet he always has such a positive attitude. Tyler has worked very hard to better himself and is currently in the 11th grade at The Gow School in New York.

Although Tyler still struggles at times with PTSD, he is a well-mannered, articulate and devoted young man. He loves his family and his dogs. His friends and teachers are held in high regard by Tyler. He struggled to read and write when he first came to live with us, but now he is in honors economics and calculus classes at school.

With regard to sports, Tyler has used them to maintain his balance. Ever since 5th grade, Ty has participated in team sports. He is currently an active member of three varsity sports at his current school (soccer, basketball and lacrosse) and has been on those teams for two years. He is a leader. Tyler's resiliency in his own life with his own struggles has helped him succeed on the athletic field. He has been named Athlete of the Week multiple times by his school and has achieved honorable mention and all-star status in the leagues in which he participates.

Athletics are and have always been an integral part of this young man’s history. They honestly were his saving grace. To work hard, overcome challenges and persevere are just a few of the lessons that he has carried from sports to his personal life.

He is also very active over the summer with lifeguarding and teaching swimming. He loves to be able to give back to the community. He is just an overall well-rounded kid who, thanks to sports, has been able to channel his challenges into successes.

To list out the specific tragedies that Tyler has been involved with or experienced at such a young age, he is currently 17, will take up too much space. And honestly, it would be almost too much for most adults to bear. But through athletics Tyler has been able to overcome and effectively deal with these atrocities.

There are few children who have gone through what he’s gone through and have achieved at the level that he has. We are now currently looking at colleges and Tyler hopes to go into teaching one day to help out kids like him.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star student athlete?

Tyler has learned through sports that life challenges don’t have to drag you under. Instead, they have propelled him to success, not just on the court but in life.

Keep up the great work, Tyler Russell!

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