The Mount Vernon News sports department’s Athete of the Week is a weekly feature that spotlights local student-athletes and their schools. Based on their performances, we will select an Athete of the Week and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments.
Our Athlete of the Week winners for this week are Tori Burdette (Mount Vernon volleyball) and Tyler Johnson (Centerburg football).
Female Athlete of the Week
Tori Burdette
A gold-medal performance vs. a team inspiration made this week’s selection a tight race. In Mount Vernon’s 3-0 volleyball win over Ontario, Tori Burdette inspired the Lady Jackets with her spirit and her play, leaping for four kills, diving for 10 digs and setting 39 assists. She has received OCC All-Conference honorable mention honors. Mount Vernon volleyball coach Lauren Townley praised her player’s work ethic and determination. “Tori is a hard worker and a key player for our program,” Townley said. “She brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to practices and games as a leader with determination. Tori is working on reaching a huge milestone of 1000 career assists. We are very lucky to have Tori in our program.”
Honorable mention goes to Elsa Hoam. The Fredericktown senior cross-country runner was MVN Athlete of the Week on Sept. 10 for winning a pair of races. Hoam dominated the KMAC Cross-Country Championships last week, winning the girls division race by 56 seconds in leading the Lady Freddies to a girls division title.
Other honorable mention performances go to Burdette's Lady Jackets teammate Madi Rohler, a first-team All-OCC selection who had 18 good serve receptions and 29 digs; Highland’s Larsen Terrill’s all-around game included 23 assists, 17 kills, five aces and five digs vs. Marion Harding; Fredericktown’s Jillian Bouton was a force at the net with seven kills and six blocks vs. Bishop Ready; Centerburg’s Amani Marshall served seven aces over KIPP Columbus and Northmor’s Lizzie Erlsten finished with 28 assists, eight aces and two digs vs. Mount Gilead.
Male Athlete of the Week
Tyler Johnson
It seems as though in most weeks, the choice for Male Athlete of the Week comes down to a head-to-head competition between two stellar football players. This week, and for the second time this season, the close choice goes to Tyler Johnson of Centerburg. Johnson played a spectacularly balanced game in leading the Trojans to victory over Northmor. Johnson passed for 162 yards on 10-for-17 passing and rushed for 162 yards on 24 carries, and he scored six touchdowns. Johnson’s leadership under center also provided the winning margin.
Centerburg football coach Andy Colella calls that leadership pivotal. “Tyler continues to excel both with his play on the field and most importantly his leadership,” Colella said. "Through his actions and his ability to be vocal, he's had a huge role in keeping the team focused and improving each and every week. Tyler does a great job letting his team know his success is their success.”
In the hunt for his third award of the season was Highland’s Dane Nauman, who rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 37 yards vs. River Valley. It was Nauman’s third 300-yard performance in four weeks.
Honorable mention also goes to Mount Gilead cross country runner Will Baker, who won the boys division by 11 seconds and led a 1-2-3 Indians sweep to win the division.
Other honorable mention performances for the week included Centerburg’s Caylan LeMaster with 133 yards on 13 carries; Highland’s Zachary Church – five tackles and two interceptions; Fredericktown’s Teegan Ruhl – 13 carries for 214 yards and four touchdowns along with two receptions for 42 yards vs. Cardington-Lincoln; and the Freddies’ defensive duo of Mason Hoeflich – 14.5 tackles, an assisted sack and 53 yards rushing – and Trevor Bellman – 13 tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception return for a touchdown.
We congratulate all 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.
