Impact
Records
Morgann LeLeux
Catholic High School
Impact Statement
LeLeux is one of the best pole vaulters in Louisiana history winning five indoor and five outdoor state titles.
Biography
The nation’s top female pole vaulter capped an enormously successful high school career with the two best state series vaults of her career. In the 3A region meet, she cleared 14-2¾ to set a national record. Tori Anthony of Palo Alto (Calif.) Castilleja High had set the indoor record (14-2) and the outdoor record (14-1) in 2007.
LeLeux had cleared 14-1 indoors this year to rank No. 2 all-time indoors, and she has cleared as high as 14-9 outdoors in practice. LeLeux followed her record region jump by setting the all-class record of 13-9 at the state outdoor meet, her fifth consecutive state title after a second-place finish as a seventh-grader. LeLeux also was a five-time Division 2 indoor state champion, marred only by a second-place finish as an eighth-grader.
As a junior, LeLeux set national junior class and age 17 records when she first cleared 14-0, and also holds the national freshman record (13-2). A four-time National Junior Champion, LeLeux set a National Scholastic Juniors record and captured titles at the Nike Indoor, the National Scholastic Indoor and the New Balance Outdoor meets in 2010 and finished fifth at the 2009 World Youth Championships at Bressanone, Italy. She will attend the University of Georgia.
At Georgia, LeLeux set records pole vaulting. As a true freshman, LeLeux placed second in both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships. She was twice named for the First Team Indoor and two time Outdoor All American.
She was an alternate on the 2016 Olympic Team.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Santa Fe High School
Nixon capped a record-smashing senior year by winning four events to lead Santa Fe to the 6A state team title, the school’s first since 1997.
Nixon capped a record-smashing senior year by winning four events to lead Santa Fe to the 6A state team title, the school’s first since 1997.
Gunnar Nixon
Santa Fe High School
Impact Statement
Nixon capped a record-smashing senior year by winning four events to lead Santa Fe to the 6A state team title, the school’s first since 1997.
Biography
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Nixon capped a record-smashing senior year by winning four events to lead Santa Fe to the 6A state team title, the school’s first since 1997. Nixon erased the oldest all-class record in the Oklahoma record book with a leap of 24-4½ to win the long jump. The previous record had stood since 1969.
Nixon also won the high jump (6-10) and swept the 110 (14.01) and 300 hurdles (37.58). No Oklahoma athlete of either gender had ever won state titles in all four events – and Nixon did it in a single state meet. It was Nixon’s second state title in the 300 hurdles – he won last year in 38.59 – and his second-place finishes in the long jump and the 110 hurdles helped Santa Fe finish second in state in 2010.
A two-time winner of the decathlon in the prestigious Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational, Nixon established a national high school record in the event at Arcadia in April. Despite going scoreless in the shot put due to fouls, Nixon established personal bests in the 400 and the long jump and finished with an official total of 7,524 points, 58 more than the previous record set in 2009. His original total of 7,577 points was adjusted due to his best long jump being wind-aided. The record earned the University of Arkansas signee Athlete of the Week honors from USA Track and Field.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Marian High School
Urzendowski boasts a high school career with only two losses. She is only the second girl to win four State Championships in Nebraska.
Urzendowski boasts a high school career with only two losses. She is only the second girl to win four State Championships in Nebraska.
Brooke Urzendowski
Marian High School
Impact Statement
Urzendowski boasts a high school career with only two losses. She is only the second girl to win four State Championships in Nebraska.
Biography
The 5-foot-7 Urzendowski became the second girl to become a four-time Class A state champion at No. 1 singles, posting three unbeaten seasons and completing her career with an overall record of 115-2. That included year-by-year records of 29-0 as a freshman, 25-2 as a sophomore, 32-0 as a junior and 29-0 this year.
She is a four-time Metro Conference champion, a three-time Nebraska Girls Player of the Year and a three-time captain of The Omaha World-Herald All-State First Team. A four-star recruit ranked No. 126 nationally by tennisrecruiting.net, Urzendowski owns a career Junior record of 21-15 and was the Missouri Valley Girls-16 Player of the Year in 2009. Also an outstanding student, Urzendowski owns a 4.3 GPA (of 4.0), ranks No. 13 in a class of 163 and was named to The Lincoln Journal-Star Academic All-State Team.
The Saint Louis University signee is a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society. She also finished third in the Sports News Coverage category in the Nebraska School Activities Association State Journalism Championships this month.
Urzendowski continued her success on the tennis court and in the classroom. She finished her career with a 65-39 singles record and a 54-43 doubles. She was also on the A-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll seven of eight terms.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Putnam City High School
Haworth is only the fourth player in Oklahoma’s history to win three 6A Singles State Championships. He only had one defeat over his last three years of his high school career.
Haworth is only the fourth player in Oklahoma’s history to win three 6A Singles State Championships. He only had one defeat over his last three years of his high school career.
Chris Haworth
Putnam City High School
Impact Statement
Haworth is only the fourth player in Oklahoma’s history to win three 6A Singles State Championships. He only had one defeat over his last three years of his high school career.
Biography
The 6-foot, 150-pound Haworth finished his career with his third 6A state championship at No. 1 singles, making him just the fourth boys player to accomplish the feat in the state’s biggest class. He has lost just one match over those three seasons.
With his 6-4, 6-1 victory in the championship match, Haworth dropped just six games in four state tournament matches, and finished the season with a 34-0 record. He was named West Metro Player of the Week by The Daily Oklahoman in April.
Rated a five-star prospect and the No. 20 recruit nationally by tennisrecruiting.net, Haworth owns a 47-15 overall record in Junior play. He spent the fall semester this year at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels, Texas, and followed that up by winning the USTA Missouri Valley Segment I Sweet 16 Tournament in February without losing a set. The Oklahoma State University signee also advanced to the consolation finals of the USTA Under-18 Winter Nationals, posting a record of 6-2.
Haworth competed for three years for the Cowboys. Haworth stepped away from tennis for a few years before picking up a racket again. In the summer of 2017, Haworth won the Pro Wilcard Challenge.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
Glendora High School
Jaques won championships and set records while at Glendora High School. She continued her success to the University of Texas.
Jaques won championships and set records while at Glendora High School. She continued her success to the University of Texas.
Gretchen Jaques
Glendora High School
Impact Statement
Jaques won championships and set records while at Glendora High School. She continued her success to the University of Texas.
Biography
Nicknamed “The Glendoranator” for her domination of her two current signature events, the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, Jacques completed a two-year sweep of the Southern Section (SS) Division 2 titles in both events, giving her a perfect 8-for-8 record in Division 2 individual finals, and also won SS Masters titles in both events.
She is ranked No. 1 among high school seniors in both events. Jaques was the SS Division 2 champion in the 50 and 100 freestyle her freshman and sophomore years, and the SS Masters champion in the 50 as a freshman.
As a junior, Jaques broke U.S. Olympian Janet Evans’ national high school record in the 200 individual medley – a record that had stood since 1988 – in the preliminaries, and in the finals, she set the all-time California high school record with a time of 1:57.91, breaking a nine-year-old record. She also set the Division 2 meet record in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.83).
She was the Swimmer of the Meet at the USA Swimming Short Course Junior Nationals in December, scoring a meet-high 94 points, and was honored by Sports Illustrated magazine in its Faces in the Crowd section in the Jan. 24 issue. A three-time San Gabriel Valley Tribune Swimmer of the Year, Jaques will attend the University of Texas.
While at Texas, she won eight Big 12 Championships over her career. She was an NCAA All American and additionally received honorable mention All-American three times.
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Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Hershey High School
“In the grand scheme of things, as long as you’re really enjoying what you’re doing and can logically defend that passion, you’re crushing it.” -David Nolan
“In the grand scheme of things, as long as you’re really enjoying what you’re doing and can logically defend that passion, you’re crushing it.” -David Nolan
David Nolan
Hershey High School
Impact Statement
“In the grand scheme of things, as long as you’re really enjoying what you’re doing and can logically defend that passion, you’re crushing it.” -David Nolan
Biography
At this year’s 3A state meet, Nolan set two national high school records – erasing the records set by the two previous NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year honorees – and helped set another. Nolan became a four-time state champion in the 200 individual medley, and his time of 1:41.39 set a national record for the second straight year. That time shaved over two seconds off the record he set in 2010, which at the time broke the record established by the 2010 NHSCA honoree, Kyle Whitaker of Chesterton (Ind.) High.
Nolan’s second individual national record was 45.49 seconds in the 100 backstroke, his second state title in that event. He shaved more than a second off the previous record of 46.75, set by the 2009 NHSCA honoree, Cole Cragin of Friendswood (Texas) High.
In 2010, Nolan won the 100 freestyle state title in a then-national record of 43.27. He also helped put Hershey in the national record book this year in the 200 freestyle relay, swimming an opening leg of 19.58 in a record time of 1:21.01, more than a second faster than the previous mark. Nolan was the 200 individual medley champion in the Junior Pan-Pacific Championships last summer and second in the 100 butterfly. He will attend Stanford University.
Nolan continued his success at Stanford both in the pool and in the classroom. In 2015, he set a national record at the NCAA Division I Championships with a stunning time of 1:39.38. He broke his previous record of 1:40.07.
Over his career, Nolan won two NCAA titles, both in 2013, in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. We won nine Pac 10 titles in multiple styles. Nolan also earned 17 All America honors.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Frederica Academy
Brian has excelled in every level from Frederica Academy, to UVA, to the National Women’s Soccer League.
Brian has excelled in every level from Frederica Academy, to UVA, to the National Women’s Soccer League.
Morgan Brian
Frederica Academy
Impact Statement
Brian has excelled in every level from Frederica Academy, to UVA, to the National Women’s Soccer League.
Biography
Already a two-time Parade All-American, Brian was named the magazine’s Girls Player of the Year as a junior. She is a two-time NSCAA First Team selection, a ESPN Rise Spring All-America First Team selection as a junior and a two-time Gatorade Georgia Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Brian also is the top-ranked senior in the nation according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
The midfielder has led the Knights to three consecutive independent school AA state championships, scoring 33 goals as a junior. This year, her Knights have overcome a slow start. They are 15-2-1 with 11 straight victories, and advanced to the state semifinals as Brian scored seven goals and added two assists in a 10-1 quarterfinal win.
Brian is the all-time leading scorer for the Under-17 U.S. Women’s National Team, and has been invited to Under-20 National Team workouts. She scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over host country Argentina in December, earning the U.S. Under-17 Team its third consecutive win. Also an outstanding student with a 3.78 GPA, she will attend the University of Virginia.
Brian boasted a successful college career. As a freshman, she was named both the Soccer America National Freshman of the Year and the ACC Freshman of the Year. Additionally, she was named as a NSCAA First-Team All-American.
As a sophomore, Brian missed the beginning of the season. She was part of the FIFA U-20 World Cup team that won the Gold in 2012. While back at UVA, she was named to the First Team All-ACC and was the ACC Tournament MVP. Her junior year was more successful. She was again named to as a First-Team NSCAA All-American, She was honored as the First-Team Soccer America MVP and named First-Team All-ACC. Brian was honored as junior and senior with the Hermann Trophy, given to the top player collegiate player. She is only the fifth woman to win the award twice.
Upon graduation, Brian was the number one pick in 2015’s National Women’s Soccer League draft by the Houston Dash. She played there until 2017, when she was traded to the Chicago Red Stars. In 2018, she sent 5 months playing in Lyon for the Olympique Lyonnais, before returning to Chicago.
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Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
East Kentwood High School
Catic finished his high school career with 103 goals and 45 assists. He continued to play in college and professionally.
Catic finished his high school career with 103 goals and 45 assists. He continued to play in college and professionally.
Dzenan Catic
East Kentwood High School
Impact Statement
Catic finished his high school career with 103 goals and 45 assists. He continued to play in college and professionally.
Biography
For the second straight year, the player voted Mr. Soccer by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association has been named the NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year. Catic follows 2010 honoree Soony Saad of Dearborn High, who led the University of Michigan to the NCAA Final Four as a freshman.
A four-year starter, Catic, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound midfielder, became the first West Michigan player to earn Mr. Soccer honors since 2004. Catic scored 45 goals and added 23 assists in leading the Falcons to a 25-1-1 record and their third Division 1 state championship in the past four years, with those teams compiling an overall record of 94-6-5 during his career. Catic finished his career with 103 goals and 45 assists.
As a senior, he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First Team, the ESPN Rise Fall All-America First Team and is the Gatorade Michigan Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Also an outstanding student with a 3.9 GPA, Catic is committed to Michigan State University. However, he worked out with a German soccer club overseas this spring and also is considering starting his professional career.
Catic came back to the United State after a stint in Germany and attended Davenport University. While there, he played on the Michigan Bucks club team. In 2015, Catic was selected by the Philadelphia Union in the MLS draft. Most recently, Catic is playing for the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Chichester High School
Kan won Chichester High School’s first girls state championship in any sport by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.
Kan won Chichester High School’s first girls state championship in any sport by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.
Aurora Kan
Chichester High School
Impact Statement
Kan won Chichester High School’s first girls state championship in any sport by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.
Biography
Kan finished her career as the state champion in dramatic fashion. Holding a three-stroke lead after an opening-round 72, she needed to birdie the last two holes of the final round to salvage a 79 and force a three-way playoff. She won the school’s first girls state championship in any sport by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.
The state runner-up her sophomore and junior years, Kan also finished fifth in state as a freshman. She won three District 1 titles and a region title, and is a three-time All-Delco selection and a two-time Delaware County Daily Times Player of the Year.
The Purdue University commit also had a successful Junior season, winning the Pennsylvania Women’s Amateur Championship, the PGA Junior Series stop at Penn State University for the third time, and the CorseMax/Philadelphia Junior Runner, where she won a 15-stroke victory. She also qualified for the PGA Junior Championship and earned her third berth in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links advancing to match play.
While at Purdue, Kan had a successful career. In 2013, the Boilermaker team placed third at the NCAA Division I National Championships. Kan personally finished 15th. As a junior, Kan was named to the First Team All-Big Ten. In addition, she was named as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a junior and senior.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas
“Golf, to its foundation, is a game of integrity and one that encourages us to give back, kind of be ambassadors, role models, I guess, for kids, whether they like golf or not.” -Jordan Spieth
“Golf, to its foundation, is a game of integrity and one that encourages us to give back, kind of be ambassadors, role models, I guess, for kids, whether they like golf or not.” -Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth
Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas
Impact Statement
“Golf, to its foundation, is a game of integrity and one that encourages us to give back, kind of be ambassadors, role models, I guess, for kids, whether they like golf or not.” -Jordan Spieth
Biography
Not only did the 6-foot Spieth become the first golfer to win three 5A state titles, but he did it in dominating fashion. The University of Texas recruit followed an opening-round 68 with a closing 64 that included eight birdies and no bogeys – and his 12-under-par total of 132 gave him a seven-stroke victory. He finished 13th in state as a freshman.
Prior to the start of his final high school season, Spieth ended his Junior golf career on a high note, winning the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods. It was his fifth Junior victory and his 18th consecutive Top 10 finish. Spieth was the U.S. Junior Amateur champion in 2009, and was the Rolex Junior Player of the Year that year.
He is a three-time Rolex First Team Junior All-American. Perhaps the highlight of Spieth’s career to date, however, came last May, when playing on a sponsor’s exemption, he finished tied for 16th in a PGA Tour event, the HP Byron Nelson Classic. Spieth carded rounds of 68-69-67-72 for a 4-under-par 276, just six shots behind tournament champion Jason Day, and he became the sixth-youngest player ever to make a PGA Tour cut.
While at Texas, Spieth’s dominance continued. He led Texas to an NCAA Championships and was named both the Big 12 Freshman and Player of the Year.
Midway through his sophomore year, Spieth turned professional and continued his success and has impacted the PGA since. On July 14, 2013, Spieth became the fourth youngest PGA winner as he won the John Deer Classic. This win earned him his full status of his PGA Tour card. He was named the PGA Rookie of the Year in 2013.
His first major victory came in 2015 at the when he won the Master’s Tournament. He was won the FedEx Cup. He was honored with the Vardon Trophy in 2015 and 2017. This award is given to the PGA’s leader of scoring average.
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Articles
Community Service
Spieth founded the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation. The "Foundation offers a platform for Jordan to lend time, help grow awareness and offer financial support for four philanthropic areas: special needs youth, junior golf, military support and pediatric cancer," according to their website.
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Cornwall High School
“You have to just go out there and enjoy every day, no matter what’s happening around you or what your results might be.” -Aisling Cuffe
“You have to just go out there and enjoy every day, no matter what’s happening around you or what your results might be.” -Aisling Cuffe
Aisling Cuffe
Cornwall High School
Impact Statement
“You have to just go out there and enjoy every day, no matter what’s happening around you or what your results might be.” -Aisling Cuffe
Biography
The 5-foot-4 Cuffe was named the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year after posting an unbeaten senior season and racing to the title at the Foot Locker Nationals in a time of 16:53. Her victory margin of 34 seconds was the third largest in the meet’s 32-year history.
Cuffe captured her second Class A state title and also repeated as the all-class New York Federation champion. She set course records in both Federation victories, on two separate courses. She finished second in the Class A and Federation meets as a sophomore.
This year, Cuffe also won the Great American Cross Country Festival, the Manhattan Invitational and the Foot Locker Northeast Regional. In January, she won the USA Track and Field Junior Cross Country Championships in San Diego, Calif. by 26 seconds. The event was a qualifier for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain in March. Cuffe finished 17th, leading the American contingent. At the Loucks Memorial Games this month, she ran the nation’s fastest times in the 1,600 (4:40.56) and the 3,200 (9:56.16).
Ranked No. 2 in her class, Cuffe is a four-year member of the Cornwall Central Math Team and its high scorer. She will attend Stanford University.
At Stanford, Cuffe continued to succeed. She was a three time Pac 10 Conference title winner. She placed second at the NCAA Outdoor Tournament in 2014 5,000 meter race.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Carl Sandburg High School
Verzbicas has excelled over the course of his career from running a sub 4 minute mile, to overcoming a devastating injury and going back to the triathlon course.
Verzbicas has excelled over the course of his career from running a sub 4 minute mile, to overcoming a devastating injury and going back to the triathlon course.
Lukas Verzbicas
Carl Sandburg High School
Impact Statement
Verzbicas has excelled over the course of his career from running a sub 4 minute mile, to overcoming a devastating injury and going back to the triathlon course.
Biography
The 6-foot Verzbicas built a legendary resume in just three years. He won three 3A state championships, coming within five seconds of the legendary Craig Virgin’s 38-year-old state record last fall.
After his high-school season concluded, Verzbicas became the first boy to win the Nike Cross Nationals and the Foot Locker Nationals in the same year. In repeating as the Foot Locker Nationals champion, Verzbicas won the race in 14:59. In 2009, Verzbicas became the first sophomore to win the race in its then 31-year history. The last repeat Foot Locker Nationals winner, Dathan Ritzenhein (1999-2000) of Santa Rosa (Calif.) Montgomery High, was named the NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year in 2001. That performance earned Verzbicas Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.
He also was the 2009 Junior Duathlon World Champion. Indoors this year, he posted the No. 2 all-time mark in the 3,000 (8:07.54) and the No. 3 all-time marks in the 1,500 (3:47.60) and the 1,600 (4:03.88). A native of Lithuania, who came to the United States at the age of nine, Verzbicas owns a 3.25 GPA and will graduate from Carl Sandburg this year in just three years. He will attend the University of Oregon.
Verzbicas only ran two races as a Duck before leaving school to train solely for triathlons when tragedy struck. In July of 2012, Verzbicas lost control of his bike and suffered severe injuries including: a broken clavicle, two broken vertebrea, six broken ribs and a collapsed lung. After hours of surgery and two rods placed in his back, Verzbicas was unsure of his future.
Verzbicas was not discouraged. Within months he was back at it. To this day he is still training for triathlons.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Princess Anne High School
“Her talents, work ethic, and academic focus, combined with her enormous individual success on the court, separate her.” -Joanne McCallie, Duke Head Coach
“Her talents, work ethic, and academic focus, combined with her enormous individual success on the court, separate her.” -Joanne McCallie, Duke Head Coach
Elizabeth Williams
Princess Anne High School
Impact Statement
“Her talents, work ethic, and academic focus, combined with her enormous individual success on the court, separate her.” -Joanne McCallie, Duke Head Coach
Biography
The 6-foot-3 forward was named the girls Morgan Wootten Player of the Year by McDonald’s, and she sparkled in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
The Duke University signee scored a game-record 23 points in just 19 minutes, shooting 10-of-18 from the field, and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. She added two blocks as she led the East squad to a 78-66 victory over the West, earning Most Valuable Player honors. She also was named a Parade All-American and a First Team All-American by USA Today.
Williams concluded her high school career with a 19-point, 19-rebound, nine-block title-game performance, and led Princess Anne to a 31-1 record, a 24-game winning streak to close the season and a second consecutive Group 3A state title. That performance also earned her a nomination for NHSCA Athlete of the Month honors. Williams averaged 18.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.1 blocks as a senior. In her career she scored 1,628 points and grabbed 1,205 rebounds.
She was a member of the USA Basketball Women’s Under-17 National Team that won a world title last summer, averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 61.8 percent from the field.
Williams had an illustrious college career at Duke. She became the first four time AP All-American in ACC history. She is only the eighth overall in NCAA history. She was the second Duke player to post 1,000 career rebounds and second ACC player to be honored as First Team All-ACC four straight years. In the classroom, she was honored twice on the ACC Honor Roll.
After graduation, Williams was selected fourth overall by the Connecticut Suns. After one season, she was traded to the Atlanta Dreams. In 2016 she was named the Most Improved Player. Williams continues to shine in Atlanta.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Winter Park High School
Rivers has had an impact on every team he’s been a part of. He set a school record of 2,957 points while at Winter Park.
Rivers has had an impact on every team he’s been a part of. He set a school record of 2,957 points while at Winter Park.
Austin Rivers
Winter Park High School
Impact Statement
Rivers has had an impact on every team he’s been a part of. He set a school record of 2,957 points while at Winter Park.
Biography
The 6-foot-4 point guard led Winter Park to its second consecutive 6A state title, averaging 28.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2 assists per game. The Duke University commitment scored 2,957 points in his career.
His biggest games as a senior included a 46-point performance against Montverde Academy and a 38-point outing against highly-ranked Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick High. Named the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year by McDonald’s, Rivers had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
A four-time First Team All-State selection, Rivers was named the Naismith High School Player of the Year, and Player of the Year by Parade and USA Today. He also averaged 20.2 points and 2 steals per game to lead the USA Basketball Under-19 National Team that won the FIBA Americas World Championship in 2010.
The son of Boston Celtics head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers, Austin Rivers will become the third collegiate athlete in his family next year. His brother, Jeremiah, was a senior starter at Indiana University this season and his sister, Callie, is a standout volleyball player at the University of Florida.
Rivers only spent one season at Duke as he entered the 2012 NBA Draft. He was the 10th overall pick, selected by the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans). He made his NBA debut in the season opener. He spent three season in New Orleans before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rivers is the first player to be coached in the NBA by his father, Doc Rivers. He played for the Clippers for another three seasons before being traded to the Washington Wizards for a brief stint before ending up in Houston. He is currently a Rocket.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Matoaca High School
Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Blake Roulo
Matoaca High School
Impact Statement
Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Biography
In April, Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
His takedown nine seconds into overtime gave him a 3-1 victory in the 140-pound championship match and the National Seniors championship, to go along with titles in the National Juniors, the National Sophomores and the National Freshman Championships the previous three years. He joins Tyler Beckwith of Greene (N.Y.) High who accomplished the feat last year and also earned NHSCA National Senior Athlete of the Year honors.
The title was a record seventh for Roulo in a NHSCA national event. The Group 3A state champion at 140 pounds as a junior, Roulo was the state runnerup at 145 as a sophomore and third in state at 135 as a freshman. He finished 37-3 and was the Central Region champion at 145 this year, and he posted a career record of 185-14. He will attend the University of Buffalo.
While at Buffalo, Roulo placed second in the MAC Conference twice. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2012. He transferred to George Mason after his sophomore season. He placed fifth as a junior and fourth as a senior.
After graduating, Roulo spent the 2016-17 season as the assistant at Southern Virginia University. He took a new role in 2017, becoming the assistant at Avery University. In August of 2019, Roulo was promoted to the head coach. Since taking the helm, Avery had a poster year with two wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA Championships. In addition, Avery had it’s first Regional Champion.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Sussex Technical High School
“I would go out to practice and just have a smile on my face and lead on the field, off the field, and just enjoy each moment. -Maxine Fluharty
“I would go out to practice and just have a smile on my face and lead on the field, off the field, and just enjoy each moment. -Maxine Fluharty
Maxine Fluharty
Sussex Technical High School
Impact Statement
“I would go out to practice and just have a smile on my face and lead on the field, off the field, and just enjoy each moment. -Maxine Fluharty
Biography
A two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) First Team All-American, Fluharty starred on both the Sussex Tech field hockey and lacrosse teams. She led the Ravens to state field hockey championships in 2009 and 2010, and was the state’s leading scorer with 40 goals and 24 assists as a senior. Fluharty led the team in scoring and was named the state’s Player of the Year in both seasons. She scored 120 goals and had 61 assists in her career.
A four-time All-Henlopen Conference selection and a three-time First Team All-State selection in both field hockey and lacrosse, Fluharty scored 270 lacrosse goals and was coached in that sport by her mother, Kathleen Fluharty. Maxine Fluharty played on the USA Under-21 field hockey team that toured Ireland and Germany in March, scoring a pair of goals in the series. Also a NFHCA High School National Academic Team selection in 2010, she will play field hockey at the University of Maryland.
Fluharty played all four years at Maryland. The team won the 2011 NCAA National Championships as the Terps knocked off perienal powerhouse UNC with a 3-2 win in overtime. She was named to the NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region Team three times; second team in 2011 and first team in 2012 and 2013. In addition, she was the Big 10 Player of the Year as a senior.
She also received the Carla Tagliente Award, which is given to to the student-athlete who excels both on the field and in the classroom.
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Sterling High School
Van Groningen was impactful on the court and excelled in the classroom.
Van Groningen was impactful on the court and excelled in the classroom.
Courtney Van Groningen
Sterling High School
Impact Statement
Van Groningen was impactful on the court and excelled in the classroom.
Biography
A three-sport standout, Van Groningen became one of the state’s most feared outside hitters despite standing just 5-foot-4. Van Groningen set an all-class state record with 50 kills in a match as a sophomore, and this year, she broke her own Class D-2 state record with 642 kills as she led Sterling, one of the state’s smallest high schools with an enrollment of only 65 students, to a 30-3 record and the state title match.
Though Sterling lost that match in five sets, Van Groningen racked up 30 kills, six blocks, 32 digs and three aces. She also recorded 40 kills in the Lady Jets’ semifinal win, was named the captain of the D-2 All-Tournament Team and was recognized as the NHSCA/GTM Sportswear Athlete of the Month for December. She also holds the all-class state record for career digs (1,907) and the D-2 record for career kills (1,901).
Van Groningen was a four-year starter at shooting guard for the Lady Jets basketball team, averaging 15 points per game as a senior and scoring 1,127 career points. She also doubled up at the state track and field meet last spring, winning the Class D 100 and 300 hurdles crowns. She is favored to repeat in both events this spring and also is a contender in the 100-meter dash. Van Groningen is signed to play volleyball at Wayne State University.
While at Wayne State, Van Groningen played her last three seasons. She was also named as the NSIC Libero of the Year. In addition, she was named First Team All-NSIC her senior year.
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Buffalo Grove High School
DiPrima, an outfielder, holds virtually every school season and career offensive record.
DiPrima, an outfielder, holds virtually every school season and career offensive record.
Andrea DiPrima
Buffalo Grove High School
Impact Statement
DiPrima, an outfielder, holds virtually every school season and career offensive record.
Biography
A rare junior to be awarded First-Team All-America honors by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2010, DiPrima, an outfielder, holds virtually every school season and career offensive record. Last year, DiPrima batted .583 with 10 home runs, 43 RBIs and 67 hits – all school season records – and also had 16 doubles, a slugging percentage of 1.035 and 33 runs scored.
As a sophomore, DiPrima batted .542 and set another school record with 23 doubles, recording 65 hits, and she batted .459 as a freshman with 15 doubles, 50 hits and 29 RBIs. Through her junior year, she owned career records for batting average (.529), hits (182), doubles (54), home runs (13), extra-base hits (77) and runs batted in (95). She had 25 hits through her team’s first 18 games this year.
A four-year starter at guard on the Bison basketball team, DiPrima scored 1,027 points in her career and played on a state tournament team as a freshman. Also an outstanding student, DiPrima, who ranks in the top 3 percent of her class with a 5.28 GPA (of 5.0), will attend Northwestern University.
DiPrima saw action all four years at Northwestern. Her senior season, she had a .389 batting average with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. She was also named to the Second Team All-Big Ten honors twice during her career. She was also a three time Academic All Big-Ten honoree.
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Owasso High School
Bundy was a top prospect in high school and has had a long career in the Major Leagues.
Bundy was a top prospect in high school and has had a long career in the Major Leagues.
Dylan Bundy
Owasso High School
Impact Statement
Bundy was a top prospect in high school and has had a long career in the Major Leagues.
Biography
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is projected as a pitcher as a professional, but the switch-hitting Bundy was named Second-Team All-America by Baseball America as a junior at two positions: utility player and pitcher.
The right-handed hurler posted a record of 11-1 as a junior with a 1.58 ERA. In 80 innings, he struck out 164, while walking just 20 and allowing 41 hits. He also batted .442 with 16 doubles and seven home runs, driving in 51 runs and scoring 50.
This spring, Bundy, who was clocked at 100 miles per hour four times in one start alone, has exceeded those numbers and led Owasso, the 6A state champions three straight seasons from 2007-09, to a No. 1 national ranking by several publications and the state title game. Through May 6, Bundy was 10-0 with a 0.22 ERA, with 147 strikeouts and just five walks, 18 hits and two earned runs allowed in 64 innings.
A workout warrior who squats 500 pounds and leg-presses 1,200 pounds, Bundy has signed with the University of Texas, but is projected to be selected in the top half of the first round in the upcoming Major League draft. His brother, Bobby, was an eighth-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2008 and is progressing through their system.
Bundy did just that. He was the fourth overall pick at the 2011 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He was sidelined after undergoing Tommy John surgery and then with calcification of the shoulder. He made his appearance in the spring of 2016. He was placed on the disabled list in 2019 after a bout with tendinitis in the knee.
In December of 2019, Bundy was traded to the Los Angeles Angels.
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Tivy High School
“I want to leave it all on the field and wear my heart on my sleeve.” –Johnny Manziel
“I want to leave it all on the field and wear my heart on my sleeve.” –Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel
Tivy High School
Impact Statement
“I want to leave it all on the field and wear my heart on my sleeve.” –Johnny Manziel
Biography
Manziel is one of the greatest playmakers in the hallowed history of Texas high school football. The dual-threat 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was the only quarterback to be named a Parade All-American after completing 520 of 819 passes (63.5 percent) for 7,626 yards and 76 touchdowns, rushing 531 times for 4,045 yards and 77 touchdowns and catching 30 passes for 582 yards and another five touchdowns in three years as a starter.
As a senior, Manziel led the Fighting Antlers to a 10-2 record, completing 228 of 347 passes for 3,609 yards and 45 touchdowns, throwing just five interceptions, and rushing for 1,674 yards, a 9.8 average and 30 scores. That performance earned him the Associated Press Sports Editors Texas Player of the Year award and Offensive Player of the Year honors from The San Antonio Express-News.
In a come-from-behind 39-34 victory over San Antonio Madison High Sept. 3, Manziel threw a state-record 75 passes, completing 41 for 503 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, and was nominated for NHSCA Athlete of the Month honors. The Texas A&M University football commitment, who has already enrolled after graduating from high school after the fall semester, also batted .412 as a sophomore and .416 as a junior as his baseball team’s shortstop and is an 8-handicap golfer.
Since being honored, Manziel went on to have an illustrious career at Texas A&M that concluded with the Heisman Trophy. He is the first player in history to receive the award as a Freshman. In addition, he was the first freshman, and fifth overall, to pass for more then 3,000 yards in a season.
Manziel only spent two years at Texas A&M before declaring he would enter the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the 22nd pick overall selected by the Cleveland Browns. He played two seasons for the Browns. He played for a season in the Canadian Football League before playing for the Memphis Express prior to the league being disbanded.
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