Noah Vellaithambi, is a 17-year-old senior at Hurricane High School and the son of  Jennifer Thomas and Elijah Vellaithambi. He has a large family, including siblings Elijah (21), Kayleigh (20), Tessia (20), and Dylan (20) who attend Marshall, and Mia (17) and Isaiah (11th grade) who are at George Washington High. Noah, who transferred to Hurricane from George Washington his sophomore year, initially led the Redskins as their starting quarterback. Last season, he transitioned to running back, having one of the best seasons at that position for HHS in recent memory.

"I started playing football because my dad convinced me to play. He knew I would love it," Noah shared with Stroll Hurricane. Playing since he was 7, Noah's dedication has earned him numerous accolades, including All Kanawha Valley Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-Conference, and Friday Night Rivals Player of the Game.

Noah shared his favorite moment, “Coming back to defeat Spring Valley after we were down 28-3.” He added his favorite thing about playing football is, “succeeding with my team.”

His favorite coach, Lamar Martin, pushes him to be his best, while his teammates, whom he describes as family, create a close-knit environment. "We get together once a week and eat. They are like my family," Noah says. Reflecting on his football journey, he emphasizes the importance of teamwork, "It takes more than yourself to succeed. You can’t be selfish in life."

After graduating, Noah plans to attend college and hopes to play football at the next level.

His advice for aspiring athletes is to "come into it open-minded. You have to be a team player."

Noah's passion for football and his team-driven mindset continue to define his high school career and beyond. The Hurricane community will be rooting for Noah and his teammates this season, and hope they make a deep playoff run.