Design note: Bold athlete names on reference, boys' pic gets two names under it as cutline , male subhed is plural ATHLETES.
The Mount Vernon News sports department’s 34th ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations continue 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 a softball pitcher who was perfect and a tennis doubles team who won in a big tournament.
Female ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Just over a month ago, Cardington-Lincoln’s Ari Simpson earned Athlete of the Week honors for her eight RBIs at the plate. This time, she earns her second award for her perfect work in the circle as well as perfection at the dish.
In her first tournament game, Simpson was perfect from the slab, striking out all 15 Columbus North International batters she faced, needing only 72 pitches to complete five perfect innings. Simpson was also perfect at the plate, with a 3-for-3 day. Through May 7, Simpson has a slugging pct. of .724 with 3 home runs and 24 RBIs. In the circle, Simpson was leading KMAC pitchers in ERA at 0.73.
Cardington-Lincoln softball coach Tod Brininger said her opponents were overmatched in the game. “She went out, threw a ton of strikes, and did exactly what she needed to do.” Brininger added that she works and competes … in practice, in games and in the offseason. “She’s a perfectionist,” said Brininger. “She is too hard on herself, and she strives to be great. She’s a competitor and a great teammate.”
Male ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
In a slightly different nomination, Mount Vernon tennis coach Steve Tier has nominated the tennis doubles team of Andrew Conway (freshman) and Pete Lawhon (sophomore) as Male Athletes of the Week. They were the second doubles team for Mount Vernon High School this year and had an overall record of 15-4 and were 7-0 in dual matches vs. non-conference opponents. The pair was selected as MVPs by the team.
In the 2022 Watkins Memorial HS Doubles Classic on May 12, Conway and Lawhon won the fourth doubles division competition.
Tier said the both players are new to varsity this year. “Both have come up through our pipeline for the high school team,” he said. “They took the city tennis lessons, played on the Middle School Tennis Club teams and took advantages of other summer offerings and tournaments that were offered over the years.”
Tier said they seemed to grasp the concepts that are unique to doubles competition. “They improved their ability to keep it away from the opposing net man, and they both were able to improve their own net play. They continue to improve at being more aggressive when they are at the net. Both young men have blended into the overall team well. They have been the beneficiaries of the upperclassmen's advice and inclusive attitude, which I hope they remember when they become upperclassmen.”
Congratulations on a great week by our ATHLETES of the WEEK Ari Simpson, Andrew Conway and Pete Lawhon, and congratulations to all local athletes for solid efforts.
To all local schools: Send us your athlete nominations for next week and show them and the community how much they mean to their schools.
