Scholar-athletes to be honored
The annual Augusta West Rotary Club Athlete of the Year Sports Banquet will be held Thursday night.
A male and female student representing each high school in Columbia County, Richmond County and North Augusta will be on hand to be recognized for their outstanding achievements in academics and athletics.
Also, each honoree is in the running for five special awards: top male and female athlete awards; top male and female scholar-athlete awards; and, the coveted Billy Prince Award, which includes a college scholarship, and is given to the student based on work done in the classroom, in athletic competition, and, for community involvement.
Columbia County has always done well for itself at this banquet, and 2002 will be no different.
Here are Columbia County's nominees:
Augusta Christian
Male - Joel Whinghter (track and football); 3.0 GPA, three-time Most Valuable Player in track and football, more than 5,000 rushing yards in his career.
Female - Melissa Wright (basketball, cross country, track); 3.36 GPA, AC record holder in 110- and 300-meter hurdles.
Augusta Prep
Male - Sam Nicholson (basketball and golf); 3.3 GPA; all-region basketball; will play college golf at Virginia Tech.
Female - Anna Alexander (basketball, track, cross country); 3.6 GPA; captain of basketball and cross country teams.
Evans
Male - no nominee at press time.
Female - Holly Gindlesperger (cheerleading, track); 3.66 GPA; all-American cheerleader for three years.
Greenbrier
Male - Nick Wandless (football, baseball); 3.3 GPA; plans to play football at Georgia Southern.
Female - Lindsey Sutherland (track, volleyball, basketball); 3.89 GPA; signed to play volleyball and track at Gardner-Webb University.
Harlem
Male - Domonique Brown (football, basketball); 3.0 GPA; will play football and basketball at Clark Atlanta University.
Female - LaToya Johnson (track, basketball, softball); 2.9 GPA; all-state performer in softball.
Lakeside
Male - Adnan (Adi) Filipovic (football, basketball); 4.0 GPA; signed to play football for Furman University.
Female - Megan Shingler (soccer, tennis); 95 average; Team Georgia member in tennis.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much our high school students have achieved at such young ages.
Good luck to all the nominees.