Seventy-First’s Hannah Lewis ignores negativity, earns chance to play two sports in college
Hannah Lewis never focused on the negativity, but she didn’t forget it.
As Lewis celebrated her recent commitment to play basketball and soccer at William Peace University, the Seventy-First senior couldn’t help but think about a coach who didn’t believe in her athletic abilities.
“I had this coach a while ago, when I was younger, tell me that I wasn’t gonna make it anywhere at the college level,” Lewis recalled.
“I made it there, so it says they were wrong. I’m proud of myself.”
Michelle Lewis, Hannah’s mother, remembers.
“Hannah was told at a young age that she wouldn’t have this moment,” Michelle said.
“So this means everything to us.”
Despite the naysayers, Michelle always told Hannah she could play in college. At Hannah’s signing ceremony, in front of family and friends, Michelle reminded her daughter of those words of encouragement.
“I told you,” Michelle said as she looked at Hannah and fought back tears.
Lewis spent her first two years at Terry Sanford before finishing her career at Seventy-First. She felt love from the Falcons as soon as she stepped on campus.
“Switching schools is hard, but I won’t forget this place,” she said. “It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been fun.”
As a basketball player, Lewis helped Seventy-First win 20 games in a season for the first time since 2014. On the soccer pitch, she helped the Falcons make the playoffs for the first time in 21 years.
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A leader often overshadowed by brighter stars on the field and court, Lewis never let that affect her game. She embraced the role of an underrated player and became an indispensable part of both teams.
A 6-footer in the post with the ability to venture out to the perimeter, Lewis was among Fayetteville’s top all-around players. She averaged 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game with 44 3-pointers in her final season.
“One thing about Hannah a lot of people don’t know: She kind of shares the spotlight, but she’s under shadowed because of what she does,” said Seventy-First basketball coach Brandie Ingram.
“A lot of our players wouldn’t have been as successful if it wasn’t for her … Not being in the spotlight, but still contributing so much, it’s hard for young athletes to deal with that. She did it and she did it with a great attitude.”
On the soccer pitch, Lewis settled in as coach Tony Coleman’s primary goalkeeper.
She led Cumberland County with 197 saves this season.
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“You’re gonna hold a special place in my heart,” Coleman said to Lewis.
“I usually call all of my keepers, ‘keepers.’ You’re the first one I’ve actually used their name. You’re really special and it’s gonna be a plus for (Peace).”
As she prepares to head to Raleigh, Lewis will carry those words of encouragement from her parents, coaches and teammates. But she’ll never forget the ones who told her it wouldn’t happen.
“Don’t listen to everybody telling you that you’re not gonna be anything,” Lewis said.
“You will, if you put in the work … I just want to show people that nothing is impossible.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Seventy-First’s Hannah Lewis to play two sports at William Peace
