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PAGE 2B
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020
Mainstreet Newspapers all-area volleyball team announced
The MainStreet Newspa
pers coverage area com
prises Jackson, Barrow,
Banks and Madison Coun
ties.
• ••
PLAYER OF
THE YEAR
Emily Crocker, Sr.
Apalachee
Outside hitter
Crocker racked up a
school-record 595 kills
along with 260 digs, 76
aces, 22 blocks and 36
assists. She was named
Co-Region Player of the
Year for 8-AAAAA.
• ••
COACH OF
THE YEAR
Brittani Lawrence
Jefferson
The fifth-year coach led
Jefferson to a 30-9 record,
region title and a Final
Four appearance for the
first time in seven years and
for only the second time in
program history.
• ••
Jenna Crow, Sr.
Apalachee
Outside hitter
360 digs, 75 aces. 93 pet.
on serves
Kayla Vang, Sr.
Apalachee
Libero
350 digs
Abby Bowles, Sr.
Apalachee
Setter
427 assists, 46 aces. 94
pet. on serves
Kassidy Dell, Sr.
Apalachee
Middle and right-side
hitter
128 kills, 27 blocks, 36
aces, 93 pet. on serves
Megan Crocker, Fr.
Apalachee
Setter
502 assists. 72 aces, 92
pet. on serves
Addison Hoard, Fr.
Banks Co.
Outside hitter
108 digs, 53 kills, 38
aces
Jadelyn McClure, So.
Banks Co.
Setter
133 assists, 138 digs, 87
aces. 68 skills. 12 blocks
Amy Davison, So.
Bethlehem Christian
Setter
•81 aces, 31 kills, 144
assists, 120 digs (13-match
season)
Mikayla Torbett, Sr.
Bethlehem Christian
Outside hitter
•41 aces. 46 kills. 45
digs (13-match season)
Mya Howard, Sr.
East Jackson
Outside hitter
162 kills, 194 digs, 25
aces. 10 blocks
Allison Lounder, Jr.
East Jackson
Setter
482 assists, 180 digs, 54
aces, 30 kills, 16 blocks
Keely Shultz, Fr.
East Jackson
Outside hitter
132 kills, 194 digs, 50
aces. 10 blocks
Alannah Padilla, So.
East Jackson
Libero
209 digs. 55 aces
Sydney McCutcheon,
Fr.
Jackson Co.
Setter
712 assists, 270 digs, 68
aces. 59 kills
Sophie Harris, Fr.
Jackson Co.
Defensive specialist,
libero
198 digs, 90 kills, 54
aces
Photo by Scott Thompson/
Apalachee senior Emily Crocker (1) has been named the 2020 Mainstreet Newspapers all-area volleyball player
of the year.
Cadence Thao, So.
Jackson Co.
Defensive specialist,
libero
284 digs, 54 aces
Carys Thao. Jr.
Jackson Co.
Outside hitter
185 kills, 190 digs, 37
aces
Katie Hitt, Jr.
Jackson Co.
Outside hitter
243 kills, 244 digs, 61
aces
Gracie Herrin, Jr.
Jackson Co.
Middle hitter
145 kills. 33 blocks
Annabelle Cox, Sr.
Jefferson
Outside hitter
139 kills. 80 digs, 70 aces
Kamdyn Hendrix, So.
Jefferson
Libero
223 digs, 53 assists, 44
aces
Abbey Howard, Sr.
Jefferson
Middle hitter
133 kills, 43 bocks, 45
aces
Olivia Burrage, Jr.
Jefferson
Middle hitter
169 kills, 75 blocks
Maddie Grace Smith,
Jr.
Jefferson
Setter
540 assists, 162 digs, 47
aces
Jojo Smith, Sr.
Jefferson
Outside hitter
240 kills, 87 digs, 20
blocks
Vivien Hajdu
Madison Co.
Outside Hitter
124 kills, 156 digs, 123
serves, 70 aces
Hayley Daniels
Madison Co.
Setter and right side
hitter
227 assists, 82 digs, 50
aces, 45 kills
Jamie Dixon
Madison Co.
Defensive specialist
122 serves received, 109
digs
Macie Zakroczynski,
Sr.
Winder-Barrow
Setter
8.5 assists per match,
3.6 kills per match, (team
played 48 matches), 92 pet.
on serves (school career as
sist leader)
Sofia Vaca, Sr.
Winder-Barrow
Libero
8.4 digs per match (in
cluding 23 against Car
rollton in the state tourna
ment), 95 percent on serves
(team played 48 matches)
Shelby Pillow, Jr.
Winder-Barrow
Middle hitter
6.1 kills per match, 1.6
blocks per match (team
played 48 matches)
Honorable mention:
Megan Suber, Sr., Com
merce; Kamryn Grier, So.
Banks Co.; Lola Pruitt, Fr.,
Banks Co.
FOOTBALL
Photo by Scott Thompson/
Apalachee junior running back Colby Sikes was selected to the first team offense of
the all-GHSA Region 8-AAAAA team.
Sikes, Streeter, Harris headline
Apalachee’s all-region selections
Three Apalachee football players were
first-team selections, and several other
Wildcats also garnered recognition on
the GHSA Region 8-AAAAA all-region
team announced Thursday, Dec. 17.
Junior running back Colby Sikes and
junior offensive lineman Elijah Harris
were first-team selections on offense,
while senior linebacker Marcus Streeter
made the first-team defense and soph
omore defensive lineman Tyler Ferro
made the second-team defense. Senior
quarterback Todd Jones, senior lineback
er Malcom Johnson, sophomore defen
sive back Deondre Moore, senior offen
sive lineman Kaito Hamm, senior tight
end Andrew Howe and senior offensive
lineman Chase Hunter were all honorable
mentions.
Sikes, a two-way starter, had a break
out junior season for the Wildcats, rush
ing for 503 yards at 7.9 yards a carry and
four touchdowns in nine games. He also
tied for the team lead in receptions with
26 and caught three touchdown passes,
and he added a kickoff return for a score.
Clarke Central senior wide receiv
er Nono Mack, a Charlotte signee, was
voted the region’s player of the year.
Greenbrier junior quarterback Brooks
Pangle was the offensive player of the
year, while Jackson County senior de
fensive lineman Andrew King and Lo-
ganville senior defensive lineman Neto
Okpala (Boston College signee) were the
co-defensive players of the year. Green
brier senior defensive lineman/fullback/
tight end Beau Shugarts was the two-way
player of the year.
Clarke Central’s David Perno was
named the coach of the year after guiding
the Gladiators to the region title.
8-6A
continued from 1B
the co-players of the year;
Habersham Central se
nior running back Jackson
Clouatre was the offensive
player of the year; Dacula
junior running back/line
backer Kyle Efford was the
two-way player of the year;
Dacula senior safety/run
ning back Kaleb Edwards
was the athlete of the year;
Buford senior guard Jacob
Smith was lineman of the
year; and Buford junior
kicker Alejandro Mata was
specialist of the year.
Buford’s Bryant Appling
was named the region’s
coach of the year after guid
ing the Wolves to the region
title. The Wolves are sched
uled to face Lee County in
the Class 6A state finals
Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Photo by Scott Thompson
Merrifield had two fumble recoveries his senior season, including one that he
returned 51 yards for a touchdown against Glynn Academy.
Merrifield continued from IB
66 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and a
sack in his senior season, playing in
10 of the Bulldoggs' 11 games. He
also had two fumble recoveries, one
of which he returned 51 yards for
a touchdown in a September game
against Glynn Academy.
Merrifield has started or played
regularly since his freshman year
in 2017 and was the GHSA Region
8-AAAAAA co-Defensive Lineman
of the Year as a junior, following a
campaign in which he racked up six
sacks and 19 tackles for loss. And he
was named the region’s Defensive
Player of the Year for his senior-sea
son performance.
“He’s a fantastic two-way lineman,
as good as I’ve coached in the last
37 years,” Dudley said of Merrifield,
who emerged as a strong talent ear
ly on in his high school career while
lining up at the opposite defensive
end slot from former WBHS standout
Logan Cash. “When people would
slide that protection to gang up on
Logan, Jacob always got singled up
in one-on-one situations and he real
ly prospered from that. As time went
on, he’s been the one that’s had to
deal with double teams coming his
way, but he has still been super-pro
ductive. He's always played in op
ponents’ backfields, and he probably
doesn’t get enough credit for being
an outstanding offensive lineman.
He’s definitely been or top blocker.”
Dudley said it was ultimately Mer
rifield's personal motor and all-out
effort on every snap that separated
him from the pack.
“One of my favorite things was
watching him play on the foot
ball team and running downfield to
make an open-field tackle,” Dudley
said. “He’s just a very easy player to
coach, and I’m glad he’s getting this
opportunity. He’s got high goals and
aspirations of playing right away in
college, and I think he’s ready for it
physically. He’s just got to make that
transition to being a college football
player, but I believe he’s going to
make that program down there bet
ter, for sure.”
Merrifield thanked Dudley, his
other coaches and his teammates for
making a better player and helping
realize his dream.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here
and all the friendships and relation
ships,” he said.
“I’m just excited and ready to start
a new chapter.”