Note: Please bold athletes' names on first reference and in award paragraph.
The Mount Vernon News sports department’s 16th ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations continues the established procedure of spotlighting student-athletes’ skills and performances on the fields and courts of action.
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@mountvernonnews.com. Make sure YOUR school is represented.
This week, we have outstanding performances on the mats and the hard court.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Brooklynn Hess
Danville is off to a 7-4 start, due to a team concept and the leadership of senior shooting guard Brooklynn Hess. In the Dec. 22 game against arch-rival East Knox, Danville’s top scorer, Hess, took control on both ends of the court in Danville’s 68-54 home victory over the Bulldogs. Hess scored a game-high 22 points, and her defensive skills also took the spotlight. Her four blocks – all in the fourth quarter – and her constant disruption of the Bulldog offense led the way for her team’s victory. “It’s the biggest rivalry here, and having the stands packed really helps,” Hess said. Hess used her defensive instincts to outmaneuver her opponents, as she deftly cut them off whether the dribbler was going left, passing right or driving to the basket. Her stat line for the game: 22 points on 10-for-18 from the field, eight assists, seven rebounds, four blocks and zero turnovers.
Danville coach Matt Proper said, “Brooklynn is our team's offensive leader this season. Against East Knox, Brooklynn played a determined, aggressive and efficient game against our rival. She facilitated our offense wonderfully while also being a disruptive force on the defensive end all night. Academically, Brooklynn is a role model in the classroom for her peers, and has decided to attend Liberty University next year. Brooklynn has all the attributes you could ever ask for in a student-athlete."
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Colton Spurgeon
Mount Vernon’s wrestling team took third among 16 competing teams in The East Central Indiana Classic (ECIC) wrestling competition held Dec. 23. One of the two silver medalists, and highest point-getter for the Yellow Jackets, was senior Colton Spurgeon, who wrestles in the 126-pound competition. Spurgeon is 10-1 this season and placed second to earn the Jackets 24.0 team points. In Round one, he won by fall in 3:09 over Coldwater’s Stammen Tanner. In the quarterfinal, Spurgeon won by fall in 3:15 over Bluffton’s Kaden Simpson, and in the semifinal, he won by fall over Centerville’s Mylan Nocton. The final was touch-and-go, and Spurgeon lost in a decision to Columbus North’s Justice Thornton, who has a 16-1 record this season.
Mount Vernon wrestling coach Nate Cornell said, “Colton did an impressive job at the ECIC event. Qualifying to the finals and wrestling tough in unknown territory against unknown opponents is extremely difficult. His performance was even more impressive as he, along with a number of our guys, are battling some cold and flu stuff, and still he toughed it out, made the finals and took the runner-up spot at 126 pounds. He has been an animal on his feet this season, scoring takedowns left and right and lighting up the scoreboard. At the ECIC, he focused more on his top wrestling techniques and skills and looked strong on top to add to his impressive takedown game.”
Congratulations to Brooklynn Hess and Colton Spurgeon, on being named this week’s MOUNT VERNON NEWS ATHLETES of the WEEK.
