Taylor Shields, Bob Jones’ do-it-all student manager, signs with West Alabama

Taylor Shields, left, at her signing ceremony with her mother, Vicki on May 12. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – If there was something that needed to be done at Bob Jones High School the past four years, and it had something to do with sports, chances are that Taylor Shields had it covered.

That was the sentiment expressed by Bob Jones administrators and coaches at Shields’ signing ceremony on May 12, when she signed scholarship papers at the University of West Alabama. Shields will be a student manager for the Tigers’ softball team, which is coached by Will Atkinson, a Bob Jones alumnus.

“When I came here, there were a lot of things I didn’t know,” Bob Jones athletic director Luther Tiggs said at the ceremony. “But I did know if there’s something I needed to know, Taylor Shields would have the answer.”

While at Bob Jones, Shields was the student manager for the baseball, volleyball and girls basketball teams.

“I’ve been here 27 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a student work harder,” Bob Jones principal Robby Parker said. “She should be getting paid.”

Shields did participate in athletics, including cheerleading, but stayed with sports in the area of assisting teams with various needs during games and practices.

“I always say, I don’t know how a heart that big can get into a body that small,” Patriots baseball coach David Langston said at her signing.

Shields, sitting beside her mother, Vicki, Shields thanked her two sisters, mom, granny and rest of her family. She also made it a point to thank every member of every team she’s helped serve as student manager.

Volleyball coach April Marsh and girls basketball coach Andre Reynolds also attended Shields’ signing.