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 Athete of the Week and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments.
Our Athete of the Week winners for this week are Larsen Terrill (Highland volleyball) and Walker Weckesser (Danville football).
Female Athlete of the Week
Larsen Terrill
In the OHSAA volleyball playoffs, there were many local student-athletes who performed spectacularly on the court, and any one of the six mentioned here, as well as several others, deserve the top honor. However, since there can be only one, it is fitting to use that phrase and select a Highlander this week.
Highland sophomore Larsen Terrill led the Lady Scots in two playoff wins, beating London and Bloom Carroll. For the two games, she dominated play with 14 kills, 84 assists and 24 digs. The assist total put her at 771 for the season, just six assists shy of setting a new Highland season record. Terrill has been named the Co-Player of the Year in the Central District D2 and is a First Team MOAC selection.
Lady Scots volleyball coach Rob Terrill has seen the preparation that helped get Larsen Terrill to this level. “Larsen Terrill is just starting to realize her potential,” the coach said. “She’s played national level club since she was 10, and her 15s team (Mintonette Sports) won a USAV national championship last June. She’s getting more and more creative setting the ball and attacking.”
Honorable mention goes to her Highland teammates, fellow MOAC First Teamer Kameron Stover, who had 46 kills, 34 digs and five aces in the two matches, and MOAC Second-Team selection Zoya Winkelfoos, who accumulated 25 kills and 23 digs.
Also earning honorable mention are a trio of Cardington-Lincoln volleyball athletes who performed at the highest level in the Lady Pirates’ playoff wins over Bishop Ready and Pleasant. KMAC Player of the Year Audrey Brininger had 38 kills, five aces, 23 digs and three blocks in the two matches; Cadie Long had 47 digs; and Jadine Mills had 86 assists, 18 digs and an ace.
Male Athlete of the Week
Walker Weckesser
In Danville’s 41-18 win over Windham in the first round of the OHSAA Division VII, Region 25 playoffs, Walker Weckesser put on a show. Weckesser went 9-for-11 passing with five touchdowns on the day. He also had three carries for 37 yards.
Danville coach Matt Blum is impressed with Weckesser’s make-up and improvement. "Walker has grown tremendously throughout this year,” Blum said. “This is his first full year playing quarterback, and he is starting to excel at the position. He is respected by his teammates, and they play very hard for him.”
Blum said Danville is lucky to have him in the program. “Walker is a high-character kid with a great personality and is a tremendous three-sport athlete."
Honorable mention goes to four of Weckesser’s Blue Devil teammates. Ryan Lucas gained 101 yards on 10 carries, caught a 38-yard touchdown pass and made three tackles on defense. Kaiden Colopy had seven catches for 114 yards and four receiving TDs, which broke Danville’s single-game school record for touchdown receptions. On defense, Dustin Beckett had nine tackles with two for a loss, and Joshua Byers posted nine tackles
For Fredericktown in its playoff loss to Eastwood, Logan Small had nine tackles, and Mason Hoeflich added eight tackles for the Freddies while gaining 58 yards rushing.
For Highland in its season-ender vs. Tinora, even though he was held to “only” 102 yards and a TD on 22 carries, Dane Nauman was the team’s defensive leader with 10 tackles, two going for a loss
For Mount Gilead against winning Worthington Christian, Garrett George was the top rusher for the Indians with 23 carries for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown run.
In Northmor’s playoff loss to Bellaire, Max Lower played a championship-caliber game, running the ball 22 times for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also had an 18-yard catch.
We congratulate all of these local student-athletes on their 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.
