Stretching out over lush green rolling hills, the countryside is dotted with Reconstruction-era homesteads and once elegant farmhouses, as well as the modern industry that welcomes tourists each year to the 400 miles of shoreline of Cherokee Lake. The area surrounding the lake is an unspoiled 178-acre Eden with a backdrop of camouflage green mountains, and equally, abundant islands staggered about the cool glassy blue water of the lake which is actually a reservoir. But it is a boater, fisherman’s, and just outdoors person’s utopia, with other watersports, camping, hiking, and photography, etc. Morristown is centrally located between the Tri-cities, Smoky Mountains, and Knoxville. There was no better location for Alex Mercado to grow up. “It is a small and easy-going town,” he says of Morristown. He first learned about King from my ex-girlfriend’s sister and brother-in-law. And he was impressed by everything that he heard.
The school would eventually recruit him for wrestling, and he decided to enroll electing to pursue a major in exercise science to one day become a physical wellness teacher and coach. “I want to connect with kids. I want to be a role model,” Alex says. Raised by his grandparents who instilled in him values and a devotion to the Christian faith, supported his ambitions, and provided that guiding hand. Alex says they are instrumental in his desire to want to work with students and help them succeed, teaching them communication and leadership skills while being able to connect on a deeper level.
“I visited the campus. It was beautiful and everyone was so friendly,” Alex said. It was the type of environment that he was looking for and enrolled and he fell right in with the culture and became a leader. He found inspiration in the fact that the professors will go out of their way to help and get to know you. “They want to see you succeed and do well,” Alex said. “If you need it, they will do extra tutoring.”
Along with building relationships with the professors Alex explains that he has made wonderful friendships that he plans to take with him after he leaves school. Many of these friends are other athletes from his team. “Being a college athlete is pretty cool,” Alex says. The competition is tougher and it “drives you to be better.” His experience participating in college athletics has made him want to pursue coaching and being able to give back to kids and helping them to succeed.
But before becoming, Alex states, “I plan to go into the Marine Corps as well,” Alex says. “I’m going into the Marines this summer. I will be back in the Spring of 2022. Send off day got delayed because of the pandemic. We will see what the future holds. It is all depending on what God wants me to do,” Alex says. “When I was a little kid I wanted to be in the military.” Alex chose the Marines because he says that they are some of the “baddest guys on the planet.” He learned about the Marine Corps back in high school when a recruiter came to one of his wrestling matches. “He invited me to PT (Marine Corps physical fitness test),” Alex said.
But before entering the military Alex wanted the opportunity to use the wrestling scholarship to attend school and get an education. Alex is a very mature and practical person who thinks through everything before he makes a decision. He is grounded and driven and understands the value of an education and the opportunity to get it while getting to experience collegiate athletics. And then he can go into the military and fulfill that dream.
“I made the recruiter a promise that I would sign underneath him. I was sworn in two weeks later for boot camp.” Alex wants to experience what there is to in life and when opportunities present themselves and he is interested he will give it shot. “You live a short life, so why stop yourself from doing anything you want to do?” He says. “Let’s just live.” Alex then laughs you can see he is caught in a moment of reflection. “My grandma always said that I could never sit still,” he said.
Alex is an energetic, charismatic personality, devoted to his faith, ambitious, and willing to work hard and experience life in pursuit of his dream to serve his country and teach, dedicating his life to service and it is these attributes that make him the class of student that King not only recruits, but that has enrolled each year.
If you are interested in exercise science and becoming a coach one day to help young people achieve their dreams and be the best version of themselves please click on the link https://www.king.edu/programs/health-sciences/exercise-science/