LELAND, N.C. — A star on the football field, baseball field, the classroom and out in his community, North Brunswick High School’s Garrett Gore is Athlete of the Week.

Sports means everything to Gore, a linebacker for the Scorpions, because of the community aspect it brings.

“I mean, you got 100 kids out here playing football. Their parents, they hear your name when you’re playing,” Gore said. “Something we can bring a bunch of teenage guys together, become like a family, you know?”

The joy of parents and classmates cheering after a touchdown or hard tackle and the rush of excitement those plays bring are a big driving force in Gore’s love for football.

“I like being physical. I mean, contact every play again is somebody making tackles, you know, being in it, being part of the action. That’s just I mean, I think that’s the goal of every football player to get all the action, every single play,” Gore said.

But what really sets Gore’s experience in high school sports apart from the rest is the youth group he leads weekly.

What started out as 12 guys getting together to share their journey in sports through religion now brings together more than 50 athletes of all grades, both male and female, to share the journey together.

“These things in our life that really make us happy are true blessings that God has given us in our lives, whether it be friends, families, your dad, whatever it is that makes you happy, there are true blessings from God,” Gore said.

Gore’s leadership in sports and his youth group have created lasting friendships and lessons these athletes will take throughout their lives.

“I got friends everywhere, all around me all the time who believe the same way I do that, you know, sometimes get me right back on track to where I need to be,” Gore said.