Golfers, spikers and gridiron stars lead the pack
The Mount Vernon News sports department’s fourth group of ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations take up where the previous student-athletes left off … with talent and performance.
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. Please send your nominations to me, Mike Blake, MVN Sports Editor, at mike.blake@advantageinformatics.com.
This week’s nominees show a predominance of links work, some football, volleyball and our first two second-time nominees. There are five nominees – three boys and two girls – representing four schools.
MALE ATHLETE
A second-time nominee, Fredericktown sophomore golfer Will Streby shot a 74 at the KMAC golf championships at Hiawatha Golf Course in Mount Vernon on Sept. 25. He helped the Freddies to second place behind Centerburg. Adam Brown, Fredericktown athletic director, said, “He has been strong all year and in three recent competitions he had led the tournament and helped the Freddies to second place in all three – KMAC#1, KMAC#2 and KMAC#3."
A Mount Vernon nominee is our second golfer on the list, junior Ben Bridges. At the Pickerington Central Invitational (Turnberry GC), Bridges shot a one-under-par 71 to finish in a tie for first among 110 players. At Apple Valley GC’s Central District Preview, he shot a 4-over 76 to finish tied for fourth among 88 players. He was named to the first team in the Ohio Cardinal Conference Championships for the year, helping Mount Vernon to a second-place finish. 'Jackets golf coach Anthony Savage said, “Ben has worked consistently on his game all year and as a result has had a very solid junior season. He is a competitor that deeply cares about his performance, as well as the team's performance."
Football is represented by sophomore running back-middle linebacker Caylan LeMaster, who scored four times and took control early as the Centerburg Trojans routed the visiting Mount Gilead Indians, 49-14. Centerburg coach Andrew Colella said, “Caylan is an explosive football player who can take it the distance any time he touches the ball. Caylan continues to improve on a weekly basis through his hard work as he becomes more comfortable and gains more experience.” LeMaster scored twice in the first 6 1/2 minutes, running to score from 32 yards out and from 64 yards away. LeMaster caught a 19-yard TD pass, and on the ensuing kickoff, he recovered a fumble for another score. On defense, he had four assisted tackles and the fumble-recovery score.
FEMALE ATHLETE
Audrey Bouton, senior Fredericktown volleyball star, had a huge game Sept. 28 vs. Mount Vernon. She led the Freddies’ 3-0 sweep with 10 kills in 13 tries and 4 aces. For the season, she has reached 115 kills (second on the team), a 47.3 kill percentage, 24 aces (third), 29 blocks to lead the Freddies and 63 digs. Freddies volleyball coach Tami Vaughn said, “Audrey Bouton had an outstanding game against Mount Vernon this week. She had her 10 kills and 7 serve points – 4 aces. Audrey has been working hard and is pushing herself to continue to improve. One stat that isn't kept is block touches, and she excels in that area.”
Our first female two-time nominee plays on Centerburg’s strong girls golf team. Freshman Avery Glenn has a season average of 44 (per nine); she has been a team medalist in seven of Centerburg’s matches. She scored an 88 last week at the Sectionals at Mill Creek to advance as the third-lowest individual score for Districts as a freshman, and she was co-medalist at Centerburg’s match with Northmor, shooting a 46. Trojan golf coach Kathy Compton said, “Avery worked her tail off in the off season and during the season. The only reason that she did not win player of the year for the KMAC was due to the fact she missed four KMAC matches worth of points due to having to quarantine. She did get second team KMAC honors but should have been at the top of the heap.”
Our ATHLETES OF THE WEEK are:
Centerburg’s Caylan LeMaster, who dominated a football game, and Fredericktown’s Audrey Bouton, who had a killer volleyball game.
Congratulations to all of our nominees for making their schools proud.
