MERRY HILL – His name has become synonymous with football success.

Daniel Waters has been a starter on the Lawrence Academy varsity football squad for three years and, in his senior season, stood out enough to be named All-State.

&uot;Daniel is not only a good football player, but also a good kid all the way around,&uot; Lawrence football coach Alan Spencer said. &uot;He has been a pleasure to coach.&uot;

Waters burst on the football scene as a sophomore when he was a standout at linebacker. Spencer said despite success and accolades that came Waters’ way in those early years, he was a better player his junior and senior seasons.

&uot;Sometimes early in his career, Daniel made a big play, but was out of position when he did it,&uot; Spencer said. &uot;It got him good publicity and stats, but sometimes hurt the team because if he didn’t make the big play, his gap was left uncovered.

&uot;As he matured as a player and became more disciplined, he became a complete football player,&uot; Spencer continued. &uot;He may not have had gaudy numbers, but he was a great football player.&uot;

Waters did put up the kind of numbers which got the attention of coaches throughout the state and led to him being chosen as a member of the All-State squad.

&uot;I feel honored to be chosen as one of the best,&uot; Waters said.

Despite being a three-sport athlete, Waters said his favorite was football.

&uot;There is nothing like going out to the fans on Friday night and fight as hard as you can to win,&uot; he said.

In addition to being chosen All-State, Waters was the Special Teams Most Valuable Payer, All-Conference and won the Coach’s Award. He was named Second Team All-Roanoke-Chowan.

In baseball, he was selected second team All-Tarheel Independent Conference and won the Gold Glove Award. Waters was also recognized as First-Team All-Roanoke-Chowan in baseball.

Robert Kravitz, who coached Waters in both basketball and baseball, said the player was a hard worker.

&uot;I thought Daniel was a very hard worker,&uot; Kravitz said. &uot;It took a while to develop leadership skills, but I enjoyed every minute of coaching him.

&uot;Daniel is the type of player every coach should have on his team,&uot; Kravitz continued. &uot;That’s true, not only because of his leadership, but also of his sense of humor and his work ethic.&uot;

Waters said he was thankful for his opportunity to don the green and gold of Lawrence Academy.

&uot;If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t change it,&uot; Waters said. &uot;There is nowhere else in the world I would rather play than at this school and with everyone here.&uot;

Waters is the son of Charles and Michelle Waters of Plymouth and plans to attend East Carolina University in the fall. He will major in business, but is undecided about playing sports at the college level.