The Mount Vernon News sports department’s second group of ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations continues this new tradition of recognizing talented student-athletes. To recap the nomination process, this spotlight on local student-athletes and their schools is based on performances that have encouraged local school district Athletic Directors (ADs), coaches and community members to send us nominations. If we don’t get them from sources, we find our own.
Based on performances, we ask ADs, coaches and the community to nominate one boy and one girl from their athletic programs to compete against other schools’ nominations. We ask for a recap of their worthy performances and a picture. We believe this celebration of talent will help local student-athletes secure scholarships while gaining additional recognition for school programs. Please send your nominations to me, Mike Blake, MVN Sports Editor, at mike.blake@advantageinformatics.com.
This week, for Male ATHLETE OF THE WEEK, football reigns supreme: re have two football players from East Knox, one from Fredericktown and one from Mount Vernon; and a soccer player (called “football” in the UK) from Mount Vernon. Female ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations include a cross country runner from Fredericktown and a Mount Vernon soccer player.
This week’s nominees are:
FEMALE ATHLETES:
Mount Vernon senior soccer player McKenna Brokaw is making her presence felt on the pitch. Leading the Yellowjackets to a 6-3 victory over West Holmes on Sept. 16, Brokaw led the play with four goals and an assist. Head coach Bill Lonsinger said, “West Holmes ran off-sides traps all game and she outran them.” The ‘Jackets’ captain also had the lone goal in Mount Vernon’s 1-0 win over Johnstown.
The Fredericktown Girls Cross Country team was led last week by junior Elsa Hoam, Hoam was fourth at the Seneca East Stars, Stripes and Lights meet with a time of 19:11. Hoam’s competition consisted of 193 runners, and she was beaten only by two seniors and a sophomore. Hoam also finished 10th of 102 runners in a tightly bunched finish at the Galion Cross Country Festival this past weekend.
MALE ATHLETES:
Mount Vernon sophomore running back Jonny Askew scored a pair of field-length touchdowns each time he touched the ball in the first quarter of last week’s game vs. Ashland. Including his 73-yard TD sprint, Askew finished with 251 total yards, including 89 yards on rushes and 122 on returns. “We were trying everything to get him the ball,” Mount Vernon coach Mike Kerr said.
On the Mount Vernon soccer pitch, senior Jacob Deever was on fire. In the ‘Jackets’ last three games Deever scored 8 goals and had 2 assists. Coach Scott Dapprich said, “Jacob is a critical piece to our puzzle in the midfield and plays a solid No. 8. He is a fun player to watch; he is always an unselfish player.”
On the gridiron for Fredericktown, junior Teegan Ruhl was in the center of the action on both sides of the ball. On offense, Ruhl carried the ball 16 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns, along with making two receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he was in the mix with five tackles and an interception in the win over Mt. Gilead
East Knox nominated two of its football leaders who excelled in their game against Conotton Valley. Senior quarterback Peyton Lester completed 13 of 21 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried four times for 28 yards and a touchdown. Bulldogs head coach Cody Reese said, “His leadership on the offensive side of the ball was monumental in our victory.”
East Knox sophomore Carson Steinmetz was stellar on offense and defense. He gained 89 yards rushing on seven carries, with one TD, caught two passes for 55 yards and a touchdown and returned two punts for 26 yards. On defense, Steinmetz had four solo tackles and three assists. Reese said, “He helped the team tremendously on both sides of the ball. He was a key contributor to the success that the team had.”
The Mount Vernon News selects, as our ATHLETES of the WEEK, a clean sweep for Mount Vernon as these two athletes ran away from, and through competition.
MVN FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mount Vernon soccer player McKenna Brokaw for running past the defense and scoring four goals.
MVN MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mount Vernon sophomore running back Jonny Askew, for running to daylight all game long to the tune of 251 yards.
Congratulations to all of these nominees on their big performances. You were all worthy of winning. And thank you to the schools who have nominated their talented student-athletes.
To all local schools: Send in your athlete nominations for next week and show them and the community how much they mean to their schools.
