Knights senior overcomes lifelong adversity, inks college deal
-
Robbinsville senior William Cable (seated, center) signed to run at Carson-Newman University on Monday. Sitting with Cable are parents Patsy (left) and Edward Cable. Standing in back are sister Jamie Carver and brother Patrick Cable. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com -
William Cable has came a long way from weighing 1 pound, 2 ounces at birth – so small that his brother’s class ring could fit on his arm.
Robbinsville – Nothing in life has ever been handed to William Cable.
He was born on Jan. 5, 2005 – 15 weeks premature – and, because of his early arrival, only has two developed valves connected to his heart. Cable spent his first moments in an incubator, weighed in at 1 pound, 2 ounces, and was so tiny that his older brother Patrick’s class ring could fully fit over his arm. The story of his birth made headlines in the Jan. 13, 2005, edition of The Graham Star.
On Monday, he signed to run cross country, plus indoor and outdoor track, at Carson-Newman University, a NCAA Division II institution in Jefferson City, Tenn. That is how you defy the odds.
“This feels pretty good,” Cable said with a smile. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. Not a lot of people from Robbinsville get to run collegiately, let alone in three sports. It’s a privilege, and I’m blessed to be able to do it.”
Cable still visits a cardiologist yearly in Asheville, but also received a blessing from the doctor before trying to participate in a sport. Former cross-country coach Joanne Knight encouraged Cable to try the sport in seventh grade.
“I have a passion for it,” Cable said. “For a while, the doctors wouldn’t let me do anything, so I was sheltered in. But as I grew older, I was able to branch out.”
Cable has spent countless hours training during the offseason. While others might be soaking in the sun on a beach, Cable could be found each summer at an Amateur Athletic Union meet anywhere across the Southeast.
“The coach at Carson-Newman got back to me really quickly,” Cable said. “I took a visit there in July and just loved the place.”
Cable plans to pursue a major in graphic design and a minor in marketing. He hopes to use the education to begin a career designing rides for NASCAR. He is the first Robbinsville runner to sign at the collegiate level since Meghan Myler committed to Oglethorpe University of Brookhaven, Ga., in 2017.