T H E G AZ ET T E
Thursday, December 12, 2013 bo
Page A-11
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Year
Valen Johnson Junior Pallotti Outside hitter Was all over the place for the Panthers with 180 kills, 126 digs, 53 assists, 66 aces.
FILE PHOTO
St. Vincent Pallotti’s Valen Johnson is The Gazette’s 2013 Player of the Year in volleyball.
First Team
Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School’s Brenen Garrett runs during practice at the school on Monday.
TRACK
Continued from Page A-10 tiple top-3 finishes at the county championships. Now, football is an afterthought and “track is life,” Garrett said. “It was fun and I was winning. So I loved it.” Yancey said Garrett has become one of Wise’s leaders. By training hard, he sets an example for teammates, Yancey said. “He’s done a lot in his spare time to actually better himself,” Yancey said. Garrett and the boys’ team have championship aspirations for the county, region and state — in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. “We’re hungry, we’re working hard. And we feel like we can win indoor and outdoor,” Garrett said. That goal might be attainable with many of Wise’s top scorers returning, including Garrett, Vaughan and Yancey. “Most of the people are still here,” said Vaughan, an All-Gazette indoor and outdoor selection. “We could actually win a state championship this year.” Vaughan said the extra year of experience will help Wise, particularly its newer runners. “They know what it takes now. They don’t have to think about it as just running anymore,” Vaughan said. The Pumas finished third in the outdoor 4A state championships in the spring — within striking distance of champion Northwest — despite disqualifications from multiple highstakes events. A lane violation led to a disqualification in the 800-meter relay, costing the Pumas valuable points. “I remember that feeling like it was yesterday,” Garrett said. “That could have been states right there.” The team is using the championship meet as motivation for the indoor and outdoor seasons. “It made our kids that much more hungry,” coach Fardan
SUITLAND
Continued from Page A-10 group,” Neubeiser said. “There’s a really nice mix — we’re kind of a young team actually. We knew coming in that we’d be young. We just needed some of the guys to step up, and they did.” Pierce recorded 14 passing touchdowns during the Jaguars playoff run. “We knew we had to do it for these seniors this year,” Pierce said. Senior Joshua Gills, who spent part of the season under center, caught five passes for 84 yards. The multi-position star caught a 30-yard touchdown in the second quarter that capped off an 85-yard drive.
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
2013 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD Bladensburg
Largo
n Athletes to watch: Deandre Miles, Sashane Williams
n Athletes to watch: Devonni Farrar, Marcel Preston
Bowie
Laurel
n Athletes to watch: Lexus Ramsey, Joshua Wilkins
n Athletes to watch: Karen Vital, Damon Watson-Willis
Central
Bishop McNamara
n Athletes to watch: Chandler Cotton, Mercedes Stokes
n Athletes to watch: Jaela Gay, Camari Murray
DeMatha Catholic
Parkdale
n Athletes to watch: Darryl Haraway, John Oputa
n Athletes to watch: Akorede Olayiwola, Obichi Onwukwe
Frederick Douglass
Potomac
n Athletes to watch: Terrell Green, Anisah Teach
n Athletes to watch: Janay Fields, Henry Forson
DuVal
Riverdale Baptist
n Athletes to watch: Madeleine Akobundu, Deandre Mcalmont
n Athletes to watch: Rashad Manning, Bryana Williams
Fairmont Heights
Elizabeth Seton
n Athletes to watch: Erin Early, Darren Walker
n Athletes to watch: Javonne Antoine, Lauren Morgan
Charles H. Flowers
Suitland
n Athletes to watch: Justin Bentham, Imani Matthews
n Athletes to watch: Brandon Brown, Jasmyn Hall
Forestville
Surrattsville
n Athletes to watch: Oluwadamilol Balogun, Amen Tefarie
n Athletes to watch: Jasmyne Sanchious
High Point n Athletes to watch: Raymond Lyles, Mario Murray
Khayla Carr
Keturah Gregory
Dara Harris
Kilana Jenkins
Christina Oyawale
Kristin Watson
Senior Bowie Setter
Senior High Point Middle
Junior Flowers OH/setter
Senior Henry A. Wise Libero
Senior Parkdale Middle
Junior E. Roosevelt Outside hitter
First-year setter led team to county title over Crossland; averaged eight assists.
Became team’s rock and top passer, averaging 4.5 kills and six blocks per game.
Doubling up positions, she recorded 118 assists, 90 kills, 87 digs and 223 service points.
Anchored the Pumas’ defense in leading team to a winning record.
Was a force in the middle with 157 kills and 38 blocks in final high school season.
Watson did a little bit of everything for the Raiders: hit, dig, set and serve reliably.
Coach of the Year Shirley Diggs High Point Guided Eagles to regional title and state tournament berth for first time since 2005.
Second Team
Honorable Mention
Chelsea Beaudoin, senior, Flowers, hitter; Grace Biney, senior, High Point, hitter; Katelin Canty, senior, Flowers, hitter; Erica Kittlesen, senior, High Point, setter; Amber Reese, senior, Roosevelt, hitter; Kalynn Stroman, senior, Friendly, hitter; Tyler Trahan, senior, Crossland, setter
Deja Amaker, Friendly; Nace DentonHurst, Friendly; Zoe Pascal, Wise; Alesia Richardson, Roosevelt; Shannon Riley, Bowie; Sumentra Sinanan, High Point; Paige Smith, Pallotti; Samaya Smith, Crossland; Paulan Smith, High Point; Sabrina Towson, Crossland
Henry A. Wise n Athletes to watch: Brenen Garrett, Paris Vaughan
Carter said. Wise must overcome the loss of a few top runners, including Chase Powell and Joel Thomas, who accounted for a substantial portion of the team’s points. But in addition to returning most of their athletes, the Pumas also bring in valuable newcomers. Carter said he expects contributions from Bishop McNamara transfer Malik Self and fresh-
man Maceo Barbosa, among others. Between the returnees, the freshmen and the transfers, this year’s team has enough talent to compete for a championship, Carter said. “We’re going to be in contention again. It’s just a matter of our kids working hard and dedicating themselves,” he said.
“This is a terrific season with a storybook ending,” Gills said. “The seniors couldn’t have asked for a better year.” Northwest senior cornerback Rodney Snider had a shutdown performance in the secondary, breaking up four passes and intercepting a deep throw late in the second quarter. The special teams advantage belonged to the Jaguars, whose opening offensive possession started on Suitland’s 28-yard line as a result of a short punt. Northwest capitalized on the field position and took a 6-0 lead after E.J. Lee’s 9-yard rushing touchdown. The Rams started slow for the third consecutive game, committing seven penalties and managing only 105 yards in the
first half. Their offense picked up in the second half, but so did their penalties. “You can’t have 17 penalties in a state championship game. That shouldn’t be allowed. Those are things we did and we have to own up to it,” Suitland coach Ed Shields said. The Rams had not lost since November 2012, when they were defeated by Henry A. Wise 41-6 in the 4A South Region final. Northwest’s victory gives Montgomery County its first football state championship since Sherwood won in 2008. “It’s just an amazing feeling,” Pierce said. “Words can’t explain how we all feel right now. It’s great to definitely shock the world, and get it done.”
egoldwein@gazette.net
egoldwein@gazette.net
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