The Mount Vernon News sports department’s MVN 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.
Last week, basketball provided some of the top performances from local student-athletes. Our Athletes of the Week are Grace Sipes (Fredericktown basketball) and Trenton Collins (Utica basketball).
Female Athlete of the Week
Grace Sipes
Fredericktown’s Grace Sipes continues to build after coming back from an ankle injury. In her first four games back, she averaged 14 points per game, and she put it all back together last week in a 69-36 win over Lucas. Sipes scored 20 points and rainbowed a pair of threes in the third quarter. Fredericktown basketball coach Tim Maceyko said Sipes was a force on offense and defense.
“There’s a different feel to our team when Grace gets going,” Maceyko said. “Her energy can be contagious, and she got everyone involved tonight. It’s great having her back on the floor in that point guard position. That senior leadership is just huge. And on defense, she was tasked with guarding Shelby Grover in the second half, holding her to just six points over the final stretch.”
Coach Maceyko said Sipes has meant a lot to the Freddies’ program over the last four years.
“I don’t think people fully understand how much her injury affected our season,” he said. “But I’m just glad she is getting a chance to play these final couple of weeks and enjoy the game again before her senior year is over. She deserves it.”
Honorable mention goes to Sipes’ teammate, Cally Carpenter, who scored 18 points in the Freddies’ 46-34 win over Northmor, Feb. 1. Ella Proper scored 13 for Danville in a 54-50 win over East Knox, scoring eight in the fourth and hitting four straight at the line. Honors also go to Highland’s Abby Jordan for scoring 11 points on her birthday in the Scots’ loss to River Valley, Feb. 4.
Male Athlete of the Week
Trenton Collins
Utica’s Trenton Collins is a familiar face for this honor as this is his third Athlete of the Week award this basketball season. This time, Collins gets the nod for his athleticism on both ends of the court and his 26 points for the Redskins in their 64-44 win over Lakewood. Collins put on a show with some acrobatic dunks and solid work in the paint and he was hot from the beginning with seven points in the first quarter. He started the second quarter with a steal leading to a fast break, and a one-handed slam, then another slam dunk, then a steal and a layup en route to a 15-point first half.
Utica boys basketball coach Brian Radabaugh said Collins inspired his team early.
“Trenton played a really good all-around game against Lakewood, leading the scoring charge early with two dunks, and then getting teammates involved as the game wore on,” Radabaugh said. “Trenton works on his game as much as anyone I have ever coached. He is always in the gym working on his game. He has developed into a leader in our room best displayed through his passion and work ethic.”
Collins’ stat line for the game was 26 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Honorable mention goes to Northmor’s Grant Bentley, who scored 28 points and drained four 3-pointers in a loss to New Hope, and to his Golden Knights teammate Jax Wenger, who had 20 against New Hope and 19 against Wynford, in a game in which he also recorded five rebounds and seven assists. Fredericktown’s Teegan Ruhl earned recognition for a double-double against Centerburg. He was Fredericktown‘s top scorer with 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting. He also had 11 boards and a block.
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.
