Athlete of the Year 2021-22

Apr. Week 4

Chris Bedsole
Huntsville High School, 4.52 GPA
Swimming
- 4x State Team Champion / 8x State Finalist / USA Futures Qualifier / NCSA National Qualifier
- Ranked 1^st in Graduating Class / National Society of High School Scholars / USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
- Huntsville Swim Association Volunteer / Teacher of swimming to underprivileged children / Swim Teacher

Apr. Week 3

Anna Goodson
Randolph High School, 4.63 GPA
Swim & Dive / Softball
- 4-Year Varsity Member & Team Captain – Swim & Dive / 4-Year Varsity Softball / 2x State Diving Meet Champ / Team Champion
- Cum Laude Society Member / AP Scholar / National Spanish Honors Society / National Honors Society
- Inner-City Learning Center Volunteer / Manna House Volunteer / FCA Volunteer

Apr. Week 2

Logan Gordon
Hazel Green High School, 3.63 GPA
Track & Field
- 6A 4x400 Meter Relay State Champion / USA Track & Field 4x400 All-American / Adidas Indoor Nationals All-American
- Advanced Placement (AP) Courseload / Dual Enrollment – UNA / Boys State Delegate / Principal’s Advisory Council
- Community Food Distribution Volunteer / Church Volunteer – Home Repairs and Painting for elderly / Family Service Projects

Apr. Week 1

Jillian Pennell
Bob Jones High School, 4.6 GPA
Cross Country / Track & Field
- 3-Year Varsity Starter & Team Captain – XC & Track / 3x State Qualifier – Track / Sectional Tournament Team Member
- “A” Honor Roll / Student Government / Dual Enrollment – UAH / VP of School Ambassadors / National Honors Society
- Girls State Delegate / “Good Citizen” Award Recipient / Community Service Volunteer / Math Tutor

Mar. Week 4

Eshan Pokhrel
Sparkman High School, 4.25 GPA
Football / Soccer
- 3-Year Soccer Captain / 4x Club Soccer State Finalist / School Leader in Goals for a Defender / Varsity Football Team Starter
- National Honors Society Cabinet Member / Student Government Representative / ACT 30 Club / AP Course Workload
- 450+ Volunteer Hours / Madison Co. Middle & High School Scholar Bowl Organizer / Boys State Summit Representative

Mar. Week 3

Aaliyah Washington
Bob Jones High School, 3.7 GPA
Track / Cheer
- 2021 7A State Champion – Track / Indoor Record Holder – 60 Meter Dash & Long Jump / UCA All-American Cheerleader
- National Honors Scholars Society Member / A-B Honor Roll Throughout High School / “Athletes of the School” Program
- Best Buddies Volunteer-3 Years / YMCA Summer Program Volunteer / Cheer Camp Volunteer / Breakfast w/ Santa Association

Mar. Week 2

Austin Givens
Huntsville High School, 3.95 GPA
Soccer
- United Soccer Club (USC) State Cup Champion / Varsity Soccer Starter / Awarded Best Offensive Player – Sophomore Year
- A/B Honor Roll / National Honors Society Member / Future Health Professionals (HOSA) Member / Chemistry Club Member
- Meals on Wheels Volunteer / Church Volunteer / Community Projects & Fundraising (HOSA)

Mar. Week 1

Amanda Davis
Sparkman High School, 3.5 GPA
Track
- 3x Varsity Track Letterman / 4x4 Meter Relay Record Holder / Member – 2021 7A 4x1 Relay State Championship Team
- National Honors Society Member and Cabinet Leader for Medical Group / 3x Delta Convocation Scholar / A-B Honor Roll
- Church Volunteer / Manna House Volunteer / Youth Church Leader / Volunteer-Sparkman JV Meets

Feb. Week 4

Eli Fortenberry
Athens Bible School, 4.27 GPA
Cross Country / Soccer
- Varsity Soccer Team Captain & 4-Year Starter / 3x XC State Qualifier / Top 5 Team Finish – Cross Country Sectionals (3x)
- “A” Honor Roll Member / Second (2^nd) in Class Ranking / Senior Beta Club Member / Bryant Jordan Scholar Athlete
- L.E.A.D. Member (Leaders Encouraging A Difference) / 1^st National Bank Student Advisory Board / Chapel Leader

Feb. Week 3

Kaley Rigsby
Madison County High School, 4.5 GPA
Soccer
- 5-Year Varsity Team Starter / Named 1^st Team All-Area (2x), 1^st Team All-County (3x), M.V.P. (2x) / 1^st Team All-State
- “A” Honor Roll throughout HS / Presidential Award Recipient / National Honors Society / Top 10 of Graduating Class
- Miracle League Coach and Volunteer / School Soccer Camp Organizer / FCCLA Member / Tiger Pals / Youth Soccer Referee

Feb. Week 2

Hudson Hill
New Hope High School, 3.98 GPA
Basketball / Baseball
- Varsity Team Member (BXB) / Led Team to 4A Area Tournament / Led Baseball Team to Area, Sub-Region & Region Chmps.
- Advanced Placement Course Load / “A-B” Honor Roll / National Honor Society / Highest Average Award (History)
- School Ambassador / Anchor Club Member / Special Olympics Volunteer / Church Volunteer / Community Clean Up Volunteer

Feb. Week 1

Emily Simon
Athens High School, 4.0 GPA
Softball
- All-State – First Team Selection / North/South All-Star Team Selection / Decatur Daily 5A-7A Player of the Year
- Student Council Member / Beta Club Member / National Honor Society Member / Rho Kappa Alpha Member
- Church Volunteer (Nursery) / Special Needs Volunteer with Sunshine Friends / Youth Softball Volunteer

Jan. Week 4

Winton Williams
Huntsville High School, 4.34 GPA
Soccer / Marching Band
- Varsity Team Member / Sportsmanship & Leadership Awards / NA Soccer Coalition-Team Captain / Section Leader & Band Cpt.
- “A” Honor Roll / National Honors Society / Math, Music, Social Studies & Science Honors Societies Member / Math Team
- Boys Sunday School & Vacation Bible School Leader / Church Food Drive Volunteer / Math & English Tutor

Jan. Week 3

Carin Wright
Madison County High School, 4.53 GPA
Basketball
Girls Varsity Team Captain / AHSAA Student Leadership Team / All-Area Basketball Team / All-Area Academic Basketball Team

Alabama Girls State Nominee / Student Government – 4 Years / National Honors Society / A Honor Roll / Student Ambassador

Tiger Pals Special Needs Mentor / United Cerebral Palsy Camp Volunteer / Local Service Project Volunteer / Mission Trip Vol.

Jan. Week 2

Joshua Evans
Bob Jones High School, 3.8 GPA
Soccer
- Varsity Soccer Starter – 4 Years / All-State Soccer – Honorable Mention (2021) / Southern Coast Cup Champion (2019)
- A/B Honor Roll Member / Advanced Placement (AP) Course load / Score of 24 on ACT
- Church Volunteer / School Groundskeeping Crew Volunteer / Huntsville Goodwill Volunteer

Jan. Week 1

Kacey Thompson
New Hope High School, 3.7 GPA
Softball / Basketball
- Varsity Softball – 2 Years / Varsity Basketball – 4 Years / Area Champions – 2 Years / “Sweet 16” Finalists – 2 Years
- National Honors Society Member / Beta Club Member / Future Farmer of America (FFA) Member / Honor Roll Member
- New Hope Senior Center Volunteer / Owens Cross Roads Recreation Center Volunteer / School Volunteer

Dec. Week 4

Josh Price
Sparkman High School, 3.9 GPA
Basketball
- 2-Time All-Area Basketball Team Member / Contacted and recruited by several Division I and II basketball programs
- Link Crew Commissioner (International Leadership Program) / A/B Honor Roll / National Honor Society
- Church Youth Ministry Vice President / Event Leader to feed homeless and less fortunate

Dec. Week 3

Kate Bolin
DAR High School, 4.58 GPA
Softball / Basketball
- Varsity Softball and Basketball Starter / 4-Year All-County Softball / 3-Year All-Area Softball / All-Area Basketball
- “A” Honor Roll / National Honor Society / BETA Club Member / Leo Club Member (Develop Youth Leadership Capabilities)
- Community Clean-Up volunteer / Church Youth Group Member / Volunteer Fire Dept. Fund Raiser / Lions Club volunteer

Dec. Week 2

William Post
Bob Jones High School, 3.6 GPA
Soccer / Football
- 3-Year Varsity Soccer Starter / Back-to-Back State Runner-Up (2018 & 2019) / Varsity Football Kicker & Starter
- A/B Honor Roll throughout High School / Honor Classes course load throughout High School
- Special Olympics Volunteer / After-School Program volunteer / Community clean-up volunteer / Youth Soccer volunteer

Dec. Week 1

Jillian Vickers
Athens High School, 4.29 GPA
Volleyball
- Alabama High School Volleyball Coaches Association – All-State First Team / All-Area Player-2021 / AL.com Top 25 Seniors in AL
- National Honor Society / Top 10 Class Ranking / BETA Club / National Art Honor Society / Eagle’s Choice Award
- Special needs Dance Instructor / Youth Worship Leader / Students Against Drunk Driving / Health Occupations Students of America

Nov. Week 4

Fletcher Hesse
Virgil I. Grissom High School. 4.32 GPA
Swim / Golf / Soccer
- Qualified for Swimming Sectionals 4/4 years / Golf Tournament Starting Lineup – 2 Years / Elite Clubs National League Soccer
- National Honors Society Member / Predicted to graduate Summa Cum Laude / Mu Alpha Theta Member / Top 8% of class
- Habitat For Humanity Volunteer / Mana House Volunteer / Youth Team Leader for faith-based projects / Tutor & Coach

Nov. Week 3

Peyton Bowman
Buckhorn High School, 3.65 GPA
Soccer / Cross Country / Marching Band
- 3-Year Varsity Team Captain / Ranked 2^nd in AL among 1A-7A Goalkeepers / Qualified for XC Sectionals / Low Brass Section Leader
- A-B Academic Honor Roll / Advanced Placement Course Load / Yearly Recognition from Delta Sigma Theta Honors Convocation
- Historical Society Member / Church Volunteer / Victory Alliance Ranch Volunteer for disabled Veterans and Challenged Children

Nov. Week 2

Nathan Moore
Huntsville High School, 4.0 GPA
Football
- 3-Year Varsity Football Member / Varsity Team Captain – 2021 Season / Highest Single Game Grade on the Offensive Line
- National Honors Society Member / Highest Class Average – Geometry / A-B Academic Honor Roll
- Peer Tutor in Algebra and Geometry / Elementary School Peer Helper / Senior Class Small Group Member

Nov. Week 1

Emily Mecklenburg
Bob Jones High School, 4.07 GPA
Volleyball
- 4-Year Varsity Starter / Varsity Team Captain / All-County Volleyball Team / All-State Honorable Mention / State Runner-Up
- Certificate of Academic Excellence Award / Distinguished Panther Award Recipient / A-B Academic Honor Roll
- Food Pantry Volunteer / Wrapped Christmas gifts for local orphans / Youth Group Member and Organizer

Oct. Week 4

Connor Forbes
Sparkman High School, 3.84 GPA
Wrestling / Band
- HS Team Member Since 7^th Grade / 3-Year Varsity Member / Varsity Team Captain / 2x Madison County Duel Champion
- Scholastic World Champion for Indoor Percussion / SHS “Freshman of the Year” / AP & Honors Course Load / AL Boys State
- Eagle Scout / Completed National Youth Leadership Training / School FCA Leader / Junior Volunteer Fire Fighter (Monrovia)

Oct. Week 3

Olivia Fanning
Grissom High School, 3.5 GPA
Competition Cheerleading
- All-American - Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) / Varsity Cheer Team Captain / 3x US Cheer Finalist Champion
- Dual Enrolled Student (College Courses) / National Honors Society / Ambassador for the National Society of HS Scholars
- Sunday School and Church Volunteer / Kids to Love Volunteer / Community Meal and Distribution Volunteer

Oct. Week 2

Steven Mesmer
Bob Jones High School, 3.6 GPA
Soccer
- Four-Year Varsity Starter / Winner – US Youth Alabama State Cup / 1^st Place – Global Premier Soccer / State Champion (Florida)
- A/B Honor Roll / Taking courses geared towards Honors Curriculum / Honors Scholastic-Athlete
- Church Volunteer / Help Families with Hurricane Disaster Relief / Salvation Army Volunteer / Math Tutor

Oct. Week 1

Lily Hammond
New Hope High School, 3.8 GPA
Basketball / Softball
- Varsity Player Since 7^th Grade (SB) / Back-2-Back Area Champs / 4-Year Starter & Team Captain (BXB) / Area & Sub-Region Champs
- Honor Roll / Junior National Leadership Conference Participant / Secretary – Beta Club / National Honors Society / AP Classes
- Anchor Club Member / School and Church Activity Volunteer / Special Needs Volunteer

Sept. Week 4

J.P. Ross
Saint John Paul II Catholic High School, 4.2 GPA
Football / Basketball / Baseball
- 4-Year Varsity and Team Captain (Football & Baseball) / 3-Year Varsity (Basketball) / Selected to Football University “Top Gun”
- “A” Honor Roll / Alabama Legion Boys State Representative for JPII / Selected for West Point Summer Leader Experience
- Active Church Group Member / Local Field Maintenance volunteer (Baseball) / Community Outreach Volunteer

Sept. Week 3

Mia McBride
Huntsville High School, 4.0 GPA
Swimming
- 3-Year Varsity Letterman (Swimming) / Junior National Meet Qualifier / Southeastern Meet Qualifier
- Athletic Academic All-Europe Award / Principal’s Honor Roll (Sophomore) / Scholastic All-American Award
- Volunteer Swim Coach / Volunteer Inner City Learning (Teaching swimming to low-income households / Competition Volunteer

Sept. Week 2

Manuel Marrero II
Bob Jones High School, 4.1 GPA
Wrestling
- 2X Varsity Team Captain / 7A State Placer – State Championships / 4-Year Varsity Letterman
- Recipient of “A” Honor Roll Distinction / Scored 26 on ACT
- Volunteer Wrestling Teacher / Works with Tennessee Valley Youth Wrestling teaching beginning wrestlers

Sept. Week 1

Emily Lindsey
Sparkman High School, 4.1 GPA
Bowling
- 3-Year Varsity Team Captain / Led Team to 6A/7A Bowling State Championship (2020) / 2X Area Champs (Undefeated Season
- Academic Honor Roll / Senior Beta Club Member / National Honors Society Member / Key Club Member
- House of the Harvest Volunteer / Bowling Instructor for Special Needs Students / Huntsville USBC Board of Directors Volunteer