By Paula Day

Marist school received two early Christmas gifts this past week, according to Brother Paul Leonarczyk, SM, headmaster.

The prayers of faculty and students were answered when 11th grader Megan Federal, seriously injured in an automobile accident, spoke for the first time in almost two months. And in their sixth try at winning the Class AAA state football championship, the War Eagles defeated Worth County to capture the title.

Megan Federal, the daughter of Ina Federal of Atlanta, suffered a head injury and fractured left thigh in the October 21 accident which left her in a deep coma, according to

Stephanie Stadler, Marist school nurse.

“Someone was looking out for her,” Ms. Stadler said, “because almost immediately after the accident a nurse was at the accident scene administering CPR.”

For weeks after the initial critical 72 hours Megan’s condition remained much the same, and doctors were divided about hopes for her recovery. She was eventually removed from a respirator, moved to a neurological unit and finally to Emory Rehabilitation Center Nov. 21. Progress was slow and the day before she spoke her first coherent words, her condition had downgraded and hope flickered, according to Ms. Stadler. The next days he unexpectedly struggled to get out of bed, announcing, “I want out of here right now.” A spokeswoman at Emory said Dec. 17 that she was improving slowly, talking some, walking and eating.

“Here at Marist we’ve been praying daily for her,” Ms. Stadler said. “I feel that’s what has pulled us through. The football team’s win is icing on the cake.”

For the sixth time in 10 years Marist’s War Eagles were in the Class AAA championship game, and this time they won, defeating the state’s southern division team, the Worth County Rams, 30-8.

“It was a pretty convincing win,” football coach Alan Chadwick admitted. “They were ranked first in the state, Marist second.”

Chadwick, who has been head coach since 1985, gave much credit to Dean Hargis, previous coach for 17 years, who was “a good leader and not all bent upon trying to win every game. He believed in doing things the right way.”

Assistant coach under Hargis for nine years, Chadwick said he was “fortunate to be in the right position at the right time” and credited his coaching staff and athletes for the success.

“In a word, the win was fantastic,” athletic director Steve Franks said. “After all those years coming in second, those frustrations are gone now. The fact that we were given no chance to win makes it all the sweeter.” With its enrollment of 930 students, grades seven through 12, Marist school had to petition to play in Class AAA, competing against schools with 1,000 to 1,500 students.

Brother Leonarczyk, said no special celebration of the win was planned. The school was to close for Christmas vacation Dec. 20.

“It was a wonderful win. But we need to keep our sights on Christmas,” Brother Leonarczyk said.

“The years and years of coming so close were good preparation,” he added. “They worked hard. Their success teaches us how to learn from our mistakes. There was tenacity and commitment. It was a nice Christmas gift.”