The Mount Vernon News sports department is starting its third year of the MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK, a school-year weekly feature that spotlights local student-athletes and their schools.
To fuel it, we encourage every area high school coach to send us nominations, but if they don’t, we'll find our own.
We also encourage community members to send us their nominations. We take all nominations seriously and will consider all that we receive. An athlete can be nominated more than once, as a worthy student-athlete can gain recognition as often as he or she earns it.
Based on their performances, we will select an ATHLETE of the WEEK and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments. We will run a picture of the winner and their weekly stats or other information provided.
We believe this program will help local student-athletes secure scholarships while gaining additional recognition for school athletic programs. If we do not receive a boy and a girl in some weeks, we will spotlight only the winner from the group of nominations.
These student-athletes should be commended for their accomplishments. Help us do that and please send us your nominations.
Last school year, we recognized 57 student-athletes – 30 females and 27 males -- who were been named MOUNT VERNON NEWS ATHLETES OF THE WEEK.
Last year’s FEMALE ATHLETE of the YEAR was Juliette Laracuente-Huebner of Highland. Laracuente-Huebner started the season with an AotW top spot for winning a national title at the 33rd annual New Balance Nationals Indoor track meet. She won four golds at the Division II, Region 6 meet at Lexington, gained triple gold at the Westerville Divisional meet and finished the season with a quadruple gold performance at the OHSAA 115th annual boys, and 48th annual girls state track and field tournament at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
In 2021-22, our ATHLETE of the YEAR was Natalie Smith of East Knox. She was nominated for softball as she led the KMAC in batting at .600, slugging at an astronomical 1.067, home runs with seven and RBIs with 41, On-base-pct. at .638 and a staggering OPS of 1.705.
Last year’s MALE ATHLETE of the YEAR was Dane Nauman of Highland. Nauman was an offense machine for the Highland Fighting Scots’ football team. He was named All-Ohio Division-V Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-Ohio First Team Division V running back. He finished fifth in Ohio in yards gained rushing, with 2,380 yards and all of those ahead of him played from two to four more games (due to playoffs).
Shane Knepp of East Knox won it in 2021-22. Knepp was a three-sport star who won a record five ATHLETE of the WEEK nominations in 2021-2022. In football, he received KMAC and Divisional first-team honors for his play at defensive back. Also first team in basketball, he led the conference in scoring and steals.
Our first ATHLETE of the WEEK WINNERS for 2023-24 are Payton VanSickle, Loudonville volleyball and Kolton Stover, Highland football.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
PAYTON VANSICKLE
In Loudonville’s 3-2 win over Division-1 Tri-City on August 19, Payton VanSickle dominated in the middle and at the service line as she recorded 30 assists, seven digs, one block, six touches, 16 service points and three serving aces. Jackie Arnold, Loudonville volleyball coach said, “She's my senior setter who works her butt off and is all over the floor. She hustles and never comes off the floor. She is a team inspiration.”
Honorable mention for noteworthy performances goes to Kameron Stover, who had 33 kills and five aces in Highland’s 3-2 win over Big Walnut. Teammate Larsen Terrill had six kills along with 48 assists and four aces. In Centerburg’s 3-0 sweep of Northmor, Stella Weisbrod led in kills with 12 and was dig leader with 11
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
KOLTON STOVER
On a team that established the run, Kolton Stover controlled the game in the air. In Highland’s season-opening 35-0 win over Fredericktown, Stover completed 13 of 20 passes for 217 yards and three TDs and led the offense with poise and skill. Highland football coach Ty Stover said, "Kolton understands the responsibility of a leader and understands the value of the young men around him. Kolton's ability to put the program first and his teammates first makes him a key piece to our team."
Honorable mention goes to Scots running back Dane Nauman, who caught a 60-yard TD bomb from Stover and also gained 120 yards on 15 carries, with a ground touchdown. In Centerburg’s 34-7 win over Utica, Caylan LeMaster had 24 carries for 189 yards and a touchdown and two receptions for 16 yards. He also led the Trojans on defense with eight tackles including a sack. In Loudonville’s 35-20 win over Mapleton, Matt Sprang went 12-17 and passed for 154 yards and two TDs and had 24 carries for 126 yards on the ground. For Northmor, a 42-21 winner over Upper Sandusky, AJ Bower was 11-19 for 255 yards, and teammate Cowin Becker had three receptions for 109 yards and a TD. Fellow Redbird Carson Campbell contributed 10 tackles on “D” and gained 51 yards rushing with a touchdown on offense. As East Knox beat Northridge 14-0, Aaron White picked up 112 yards on 21 attempts and was also in on 9.5 tackles.
We congratulate all 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.
