PirateQ 
Pensacola State College has long been home to athletic greatness, with stories of perseverance and triumph passed down long after athletes move on. Yet, few rival the personal success story of Savannah (Walker) Reckenwald – a 6’2” former PSC women’s basketball player whose journey is one of resilience, determination and transformation.
Walker was once a high school senior with a scholarship offer to play at a junior college in Tampa – until she dropped out, struggling with motivation and direction in life. She gained more than 120 pounds and felt like she was failing as a role model to her young niece. Determined to change her path, she reached out to coaches, hoping to get back in the game – both on and off the court.
That’s when Coach Billy Evans took a chance on her, connecting her with Coach Penny Belford (then Jones) at Pensacola State College. Belford saw potential but made it clear: Walker had to earn her GED before she could join the team.
Walker did just that, enrolling at PSC in January 2017.
But the road wasn’t easy. Weighing in at 318 pounds, Walker faced grueling workouts and a strict diet plan. Just one month in, she suffered a devastating ACL tear. She thought she would be sent home, but Coach Belford had other plans.
“Coach B told me I was going to stay and do the work,” Walker recalled.
Through hard work and unwavering support, Walker began losing weight – first 50 pounds, then another 80 pounds – through sheer determination and daily effort.
“By the glory of God and the effort of the staff at Pensacola, I started to lose weight quickly. I remember sweating, crying and thinking, ‘I don’t want to do this,’ but Coach B pulled out a lot of integrity and grit to make it happen.”
Walker redshirted that year and eventually played for the Pirates, contributing to a strong team. When it was time to transfer to a four-year university, Coach Belford once again called Coach Evans, who had since moved to the University of Tennessee Southern. Evans gladly welcomed her to his team.
Walker faced another emotional challenge her senior year: her father passed away, never getting to see his daughter graduate. But she pushed forward, earning her degree in Behavioral Science before becoming a 5th-grade teacher at Indian Rocks Christian School, where she also serves as the head coach of the varsity women’s basketball team.
In November 2024, Walker married the love of her life – a man she knew back in high school. And when it was time for her to walk down the aisle, it was Coach Billy Evans who proudly escorted her.
Now known as “Coach Reck,” Savannah Reckenwald embodies the lessons of unconditional love, tough coaching and perseverance that shaped her own journey.
“Coaches see their players at their lowest and highest. Coach B came with such open arms, taking me in as one of her own, making sure I was part of the family. The years I spent at Pensacola State were filled with love, and Coach B was a huge reason for that. She knows where she’s at in MY story!”
Reckenwald’s journey – from dropout to standout college athlete, educator and coach – is a testament to hard work, resilience, and the power of mentors who refuse to give up on their players.