The Mount Vernon News sports department’s Athlete of the Week is a weekly feature that spotlights local student-athletes and their schools. Based on their performances, we will select an Athlete of the Week and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments.
Our Athlete of the Week winners for this week are Jadine Mills (Cardington-Lincoln volleyball) and Matthew Bland (Mount Gilead football)
Female Athlete of the Week
Jadine Mills
In its 3-1 win over Centerburg, Oct. 6, Cardington-Lincoln won its second-straight KMAC title and saw strength in the middle from Jadine Mills, who had all 59 team assists, five kills, two service aces and a 100% serve percentage in the title clincher.
Lady Pirates volleyball coach Ryan Treese said having a great setter is a huge difference maker. “Also, having a setter that is a good leader is also special,” said Treese. “You may have the horses, but if you don’t have someone that can get them the ball, then it doesn’t matter. Jadine is that combination.”
Mills, who earned an honorable mention Sept. 17 for a 53-assist, 11-dig night vs. Colonel Crawford, has impressed her coach on several levels. “Jadine is a special player,” said Treese. “She had to get into the lineup as a setter behind a four-year-starter for her first two years of high school, and when she got her chance she took it and ran. Last year, in the regional semi, she was really sick but gutted it out for the team. She has played sick and she has played injured but she does it for her team.”
Treese said that Mills is coachable and a joy on the court, “Jadine is a great kid who enjoys playing volleyball, and she is very fun to coach.
Honorable mention: In a tour de force for C-L, five other players stepped up in the title clincher. Audrey Brininger had 19 kills and 12 digs; Maddie Linkous posted 17 kills, two blocks and eight digs; Cadie Long had a huge day defensively with 30 digs; Payton Goodman added 17 digs; and Izzie Wickline had six blocks and 10 kills
For Centerburg against C-L, Stella Weisbrod had 15 kills; Gwyn Sands had 10 kills, four blocks and two digs; Eva Joering had 21 digs; and Kennedi Glenn had seven kills and 18 digs.
For Fredericktown, Julia Partington set the ball well with 32 assists and added a pair of kills and 10 digs vs. Johnstown-Monroe. For Highland against River Valley, Larsen Terrill had 40 assists and 16 digs; and Mount Vernon’s Madi Rohler had 33 digs vs. Lexington.
Male Athlete of the Week
Matthew Bland
In a milestone day for Mount Gilead in its 36-9 win over Northmor, Indians QB Matthew Bland went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season (1,035 yards) with 22 carries for 198 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two 2-point conversions and completed 3-of-4 passes for 28 yards.
Bland went off for a 77-yard touchdown scamper to put the game away for the Indians and also defended passes tightly from his safety position, where he has three interceptions this season.
Mount Gilead football coach Mike Reid said Bland has stepped up in more way than one. “Matthew is more of a lead-by-example type of guy,” Reid said. “He moved from his natural position to QB when our No. 1 went down at the beginning of two-a-days. He worked his tail off to learn the offense. Of course, we modified some things to fit his abilities and his style, but he has command of the huddle, and the boys know that he will lead them regardless of circumstance.”
Reid said Bland is coachable and all for the team. “He is a ‘yes sir, no sir,’ coachable young man,” said Reid. “He has a very likeable personality and is extremely selfless, which makes him a safe person to follow. He is quick to self-evaluate his efforts without making excuses or putting himself down. He is a tremendous example of what a committed athlete should look like. I am very glad he is on our team.”
Honorable mention goes (again) to Highland running back Dane Nauman, who gained 279 yards on 29 carries and a pair of touchdowns vs. Galion. On defense, Nauman had eight tackles, including 1.5 for loss, an interception and a forced fumble
Danville’s Levi Lyons followed up his Athlete of the Week (Oct. 8) honor with another huge defensive performance – 12 solo tackles and nine assists for 21 tackles in the Trojans’ upset win over Danville. Teammate Ryan Lucas was in on 16 tackles, with 12 solos.
For East Knox, Carson Steinmetz caught 12 passes for 93 yards vs. Fredericktown.
In defeat to Loudonville, Cardington-Lincoln’s defense stayed tough and was again led by Colin McAvoy, who had 10 tackles with three for a loss.
Utica’s Gavin Chinn was the top receiver on the day for the Redskins vs. Johnstown-Monroe, with five catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns, with one going for 68 yards.
We congratulate all of these local student-athletes on great character and performances as well as the many who did not make this week’s feature, but who will be recognized in weeks to come.
To coaches and community members, join us in our award process. Send us your choices for MVN Athlete of the Week, a recap of their prowess in competition and a photo of them and give them the community recognition they deserve. Encourage your community members and coaches to contact us each week. Send your selections to mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
