Patriot Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Parkway South High School

Sports run deep in Manchester, and Parkway South High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Patriots uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Parkway South High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

Atiyyah Ellison – Multi-Sport Standout Turned NFL Star

Before his NFL career took him across the country, Atiyyah Ellison made his mark at Parkway South High School, where he was a multi-sport standout and All-State defensive lineman. After a stellar run at the University of Missouri, Ellison was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and went on to play for seven different franchises. Today, he’s giving back to young athletes as the Director of Player Development for Mizzou football and as a high school coach and trainer. (Sources: MU Tigers, CoachUp)

Sarah Haskins – Olympic Triathlete

Olympian Sarah Haskins graduated from Parkway South before earning an athletic scholarship for cross country and track at the University of Tulsa. She discovered triathlon shortly after college and turned pro in 2004. Her career highlights include a top-15 finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games. Haskins was also a multiple-time national team member and remains one of the top American triathletes of her generation. (Sources: Team USA (archived), Slow Twitch)

Scott Langley – First Tee’s First PGA Success Story

Parkway South alum Scott Langley made history as the first participant of The First Tee program to earn a PGA Tour card. After a decorated amateur career at the University of Illinois—highlighted by an NCAA individual title and low amateur honors at the 2010 U.S. Open—Langley spent nearly a decade as a professional, including five years on the PGA Tour. He now works with the USGA to support player relations and development. (Sources: USGA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (archived))

Grace Ellington – All-Conference Basketball Point Guard

A three-time varsity starter at Parkway South, Grace Ellington made her mark with strong leadership and sharp playmaking at point guard. She earned multiple All-Conference honors and helped her teams to conference championships while balancing club play and academics. Ellington is a recent graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering with a degree in actuarial science. (Sources: STL Today, NCSA Sports, LinkedIn)

Mike McKenna – NHL Goalie Turned Coach

Mike McKenna's journey from Parkway South High School to the NHL included stops with more than a dozen professional teams. After leaving home at 16 to pursue junior hockey, he played college hockey at St. Lawrence University before beginning a pro career that included NHL starts and an unforgettable shutout in his first week with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s now a respected goalie coach and analyst. (Source: Racine Goalie Academy)

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