Staff report

Taylor Kirk, a 2016 East Rowan graduate, died on Saturday.
Kirk was a perennial state champion in the indoor and outdoor 3A state meets in the wheelchair shot put, winning both titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
She learned as a high school sophomore to fling the 8-pound shot put with a sidearm motion. Her early throws in competition were under 7 feet, but she managed a career best 9 feet, 2 inches in the 2014 outdoor championships. She missed 9 feet by a half-inch in the 2016 outdoor state meet.
Kirk was born with spina bifida and underwent a series of surgeries as a youngster.
East Rowan chorus helped her become a more outgoing person, and she also was a notable sports fan, a regular at East baseball, basketball and softball games.
During her time at East, she became one of the school’s best-known students, as well as the most inspirational.