Michael Bills grew up in Stigler, moved to Whitefield in the fifth grade and then returned to Stigler last year. And now after a year of injury and getting to know the ropes, freshman Michael Bills is looking forward to getting his athletic career started in earnest when the new school year begins.

“I played youth football in Stigler and then I moved to Whitefield which didn’t have football, so I took up basketball.”

When he moved back to Stigler, he took up football again, playing wide receiver and safety, but in the first game he broke his hip and that was it for the football season.

“The doctors told me I’d be on crutches for 4-6 weeks but as impatient as I was to get back on my feet, I was off crutches in a couple of weeks,” laughed Michael.

So then it was on to basketball for Bills where he found things tougher than they had been in middle school.

“Things were pretty easy in middle school since I was tall but now I’m playing against guys that are 6-9 and bigger so I played off the bench last year kind of adjusting to high school ball.”

When spring came, Michael decided to give track a try.

“I’d always enjoyed running so the first thing I did was the 100-meter sprint and I think I did alright for my first year. The coaches told me I could jump pretty good, so I also did the 110-meter hurdles and the long jump.”

His coach this spring Taylor Simco sees a bright future ahead for the young Panther

“Michael is a true blooming talent. He’s an all-around young person driven to succeed in sports and his academics.”

Now it’s the summer before the start of his sophomore year and Bills is taking part in Stigler’s summer workout program and studying.

“We have basketball practice a couple of times a week and, of course, we have football workouts for a couple of hours every day. I’m spending a lot of time memorizing plays to get ready for the coming season.”

Along the way, Michael has had some friends who have been important to him.

“In basketball I’ve got a friend, Cade Monday, who is younger than me but has played longer than I have. He’s pretty good and he’s taught me a lot. As far as motivation, my parents have always pushed me to do my best and I’ve also got a friend, Kassidie Tallon, who has always been by my side.”

Michael is hopeful that his somewhat rocky freshman year settles into a more productive sophomore year.