Spring sports have officially wrapped up, and high school graduations have taken place.
With the close of spring sports comes Player of the Year awards. After the BLITZ voting panel completed their ballots for spring sports players of the year, the votes were tallied and on Friday, nine local individuals were honored for their outstanding 2017 seasons.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kooper Briley – Stephens County SR SS
Briley, a Kennesaw State commit & D-I talent, had an .899 slugging percentage. He hit .413 with 10 homers and 32 RBI, adding 37 runs and 13 doubles. But add in the 35 walks (almost unheard of) and 7 HBP, he was an on-base machine! Oh…and he only struck out 8 times all season.
Voting:
PLAYER…………….1st…2nd…3rd…4th…5th…6th…7th…PTS
Kooper Briley………10…..2……………1……1…………..2…..58
Jarred Jones……….3……2…….2……4……2……3………….31.5
Palmer Sapp……….1…….4……3…….1…..1……2…….4….26.5
Connor Bearden….1…….4……2…….2…..4……2…….1….26.25
Dawson Sorrells………….3…….3…….1…..2……4…….3….19.5
Will DeVries………………..1…….4…….6…..3……2………….19.5
Judd Roberts……….1……………2…….1…..3…..3……..6….14.5
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PAST WINNERS:
2017-Kooper Briley (Stephens SR SS)
2016-Tucker Maxwell (Dawson SR OF)
2015-Joseph Mancuso (Union JR P/1B)
2014-Spencer Adams (White SR P/SS)
2013-Brett Westmoreland (White SR 1B)
2012-Zach Wall (Hayesville JR SS/P)
2011-David Sosebee (White SR P/3B)
2010-David Sosebee (White JR P/3B)
BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dennis Pyetsukh – Dawson County JR F
Pyetsukh repeats as POY for boys soccer, and as a junior will have a shot next year to 3-peat. This is the fifth year in a row the award goes to a Dawson Co Tiger. The forward tallied 21 goals and 12 assists!
Voting:
PLAYER……………………..1st…2nd…3rd…4th…PTS
Dennis Pyetsukh………….14……1……………1….74
Parker McCombs………………..10……6………….42
German Beltran-Fabila…..2……1…….5……8….31
Abram Navarrete………………….4…….5……7….29
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PAST WINNERS:
2017-Dennis Pyetsukh (Dawson JR F)
2016-Dennis Pyetsukh (Dawson SO F)
2015-Brandon Lund (Dawson SR F)
2014-Brandon Lund (Dawson JR F)
2013-Brooks Fulford (Dawson JR GK)
2012-Jose Lara (Habersham SR F)
2011-Vincent Thomas (Union SR MF)
2010-Nolan & Sawyer Hemmer (Habersham SR F/D)
GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fallan Lacey – Dawson County SO GK
Lacey is a national talent, and as just a sophomore had another incredible year, notching 78 saves, 6 shutouts and a microscopic 0.87 GAA between the posts. A Division-I recruit, Lacey is committed to playing at Brenau.
Voting:
PLAYER…………..1st…2nd…3rd…4th…5th…6th…PTS
Fallan Lacey………8……4…….1……1…………..2…..56
Hope Kenney……..5……2…….4……3……1……1…..43
Rachel Rajczak…..2…..8…….4 …………..1……1…..43
Brooke Barrett……1……1…….4……2……6……2…..22
Kindra Purdy……………..1…….2……5……5……3…..16
Madison Yost…………………….1……5……3……7…..12
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PAST WINNERS:
2017-Fallan Lacey (Dawson SO GK)
2016-Alexis Satterfield (Lumpkin SR F)
2015-Alexis Satterfield (Lumpkin JR F)
2014-Anela Melton (Dawson JR GK)
2013-Tina Libao (Dawson FR MF)
2012-Emily Stowers (Dawson SR F)
2011-Kaitlyn Hooper (White SR F)
2010-Kaitlyn Hooper (White JR F)
BOYS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Trey Wilcox – Tallulah Falls SR #1 Singles
Wilcox is the first-ever 3-peat winner of the boys POY award. He won it as a sophomore and junior while at Rabun Co before going to Tallulah Falls. Still, the #1 singles senior went 10-1 this season and has over 40 wins in the last three years!
Voting:
PLAYER……………..1st…2nd…3rd…4th…PTS
Trey Wilcox………….9…….5……………2…..62
Stetson Boswell……7…….6……………3…..56
Hotard/Ferguson………….2……12…..2…..32
Brady Talley…………………3…….4……9…..26
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PAST WINNERS:
2017- Trey Wilcox (TFS SR)
2016- Trey Wilcox (Rabun JR)
2015- Trey Wilcox (Rabun SO)
2014- Justin Yang/Gatlin Boswell (Banks SR)
2013- Bobby Nguyen (Banks JR)
2012- Jake Shaefer (Banks JR)
2011- Will Jarrard (Lumpkin SR)
2010- Thomas Flowers (White SR)
GIRLS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hallie Reeves – Rabun County SR #1 Singles
Rabun County senior Hallie Reeves went 9-3 at #1 singles in leading Rabun to the Sweet 16.
Voting:
PLAYER…………..1st…2nd…3rd…4th…PTS
Hallie Reeves…….9……5…….2…………..64
Savanna Scott……4……9…….1……2……51
Izzy Kinard………..2…….1……11…..2……37
Zoe Grindstaff……1…….1…….2…..12….24
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PAST WINNERS:
2017- Hallie Reeves (Rabun SR)
2016- Savanna Scott (Rabun JR)
2015- Savanna Scott (Rabun SO)
2014- Brittany Stewart (Lumpkin SR)
2013- Brittany Stewart (Lumpkin JR)
2012- Kayla Olin/Eryn Cochran (Towns JR/SO)
2011- Ginny Rhoades (Towns SR)
2010- Abby Brown/Claire Stovall (Habersham SR)
BOYS GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Michael Weidner – Tallulah Falls SR
Weidner had a great senior season, earning low medalist honors in 7 straight matches and in 9 of 11 events overall. He was the area low medalist with a 70, and averaged a 38 (9-hole average). In rough conditions, he shot an 82 at state.
Voting:
PLAYER……………1st…2nd…3rd…4th…5th…PTS
Michael Weidner….8……3…….1……3……1….54.5
Jeremy Davis……..5……5……..4……1……1….49.5
Dawson Fricks…………..4……..5……7………….29
Hunter Burt…………3……………4…………..9….27.5
Chase Williams………….4……..2……5……5….23.5
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PAST WINNERS:
2017- Michael Weidner (Tallulah Falls SR)
2016- Hunter Burt (Dawson SR)
2015- Garrett Rowland (White SR)
2014- Garrett Rowland (White JR)
2013- Eli Crumley (White SR)
2012- Lee McCoy (Habersham SR)
2011- Aaron George (Lumpkin SR)
2010- Aaron George (Lumpkin JR)
GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Caroline Craig – White County SO
Craig had an unbelievable state championship experience, firing a 74 for an individual state title, with teammate Karson Kimsey not far behind, helping the Lady Warriors to a top-five finish as a team. Craig, a UGA golf commit and just a sophomore, finished 5th (78) in the area.
Voting:
PLAYERS…………..1st…2nd…3rd…4th…5th…6th…PTS
Caroline Craig…….16……………………………………….80
Madison Horinek…………6…….9…….1…………………37
Kenzie Jenkins……………9…………….4……3…………32.5
Allison Horinek……………1…….4…….7……3……1…..20
Jenny Wang……………………….2…….4……8……2…..13
Sydney Bates……………………..1……………2…..13….9.5
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PAST WINNERS:
2017-Caroline Craig (White SO)
2016-Maddie & Ally Horinek (Union JR/SO)
2015-Madison Caldwell (Dawson SR)
2014-Madison Caldwell (Dawson JR)
2013-Madison Caldwell (Dawson SO)
2012-Cara Gowder (Banks JR)
2011-Morgan Wood (Lumpkin SO)
2010-Morgan Wood (Lumpkin FR)
BOYS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Zatrick Pearce – Tallulah Falls SR
Pearce was one of the top T&F athletes in the state. He was area and state champ in the 400 M, and also won area in long jump, 200 M and 4×400. In LJ & 200 he was also the state runner-up, while helping the TFS team to a 3rd place finish in the 4×400 at state.
Voting:
PLAYERS………..1st…2nd…3rd…PTS
Zatrick Pearce….13…..2…….1…..73
Bryce Bennett……1…..12……3…..47
Jacob Poston…….2……2……12….40
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PAST WINNERS:
2017-Zatrick Pearce (Tallulah Falls SR)
2016-Jay Acker (Commerce SR)
2015-Austin Pierce (Lumpkin SR)
2014-Charlie Woerner (Rabun SO)
2013-DiKerrio Ramsey (Commerce SR)
2012-Jocquise Lloyd (Hayesville SR)
2011-Taylor Guthrie (Lumpkin SR)
2010-Andrew Seay (Habersham SR)
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Rachel Gearing – White County JR
Gearing captured four region titles and was incredible at the state meet! Long Jump, Triple Jump, 400 M and 4×400 she was atop the region, placing 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd respectively at the state championships in those events. She also helped the 4×100 to a 12th place finish at state.
Voting:
PLAYER……………..1st…2nd…3rd…4th…5th…PTS
Rachel Gearing…….8……2…….5……1………….57
Jaelen Alexander….4…….7…….2……2……1….48.5
Perryn Morgan……..3……2……..2……4……5….31.5
Kate Massey…………1……3…….1……7…….4….25
Anna Davis………………….2…….6……2…….6….23
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PAST WINNERS:
2017-Rachel Gearing (White JR)
2016-Kate Massey (Commerce SO)
2015-Jenna Gearing (White JR)
2014-Sally Woerner (Rabun SR)
2013-Jenna Gearing (White FR)
2012-Jessie Dotson (White SR)
2011-Madalyn Walters (Dawson JR)
2010-Madalyn Walters (Dawson SO)
