2024 Forsyth County News Athlete of the Year

Design/Prepress Team

Chelsea Sunshine, Lead Graphic Designer

April Seymour, Prepress Coordinator

Courtney Smith, Graphic Designer

Athlete of the Year is a publication of Forsyth County News, A Metro Market Media property.

2024 WINNERS

Brian Welsch

Perseverance award reciPient

Forsyth Central head volleyball coach

On the court, led Bulldogs to program’s first-ever region title in 2023

Off the court, served as caregiver to wife, Ashley, during nearly 3-yearlong cancer fight before her passing in January 2024

2024 WINNERS

Alex Hernandez

BaseBall

Pitcher of the Year

Forsyth Central senior

Posted 5-1 record, with 1.82 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 38 innings

Slashed .380/.525/.722 with 7 HRs, 25 runs scored and 27 RBIs

Andy Cruz

BoYs Golfer of the Year

Lambert senior

Won area championship in playoff, helped Longhorns finish runner-up

Tied for sixth in loaded GeorgiaSouth Carolina Cup field

2024 WINNERS

Brooks Wehman

BoYs lacrosse

PlaYer of the Year

Lambert junior

Finished regular season with 48 goals and 48 assists in 16 games

First-team all-state pick added 33 groundballs and 28 caused turnovers

Caroline Scharff

Girls scholar athlete of the Year

Forsyth Central

Scored 32 on ACT and ranks 9th in graduating class with 4.49 GPA

William and Mary swim signee placed third at state in 100 backstroke

2024 WINNERS

Emily Baek

Girls tennis

PlaYer of the Year

Lambert senior

Finished undefeated during regular season on Line 1 singles

Columbia University signee ranks as a 5-star recruit

Austin Chavarria

BoYs soccer

PlaYer of the Year

North Forsyth junior

Region 8-6A Player of the Year led Raiders to best-ever season

Scored 20 goals and added 7 assists in 16 regular-season games

2024 WINNERS

Jake Prince

BaseBall

PlaYer of the Year

North Forsyth senior

Slashed .424/.563/.671 with 36 hits and 24 walks during regular season

Scored 33 runs, totaled 20 RBIs and recorded 12 stolen bases

Adam Zorko

BoYs scholar athlete of the Year

South Forsyth

Scored 35 on ACT and ranks 20th in graduating class with 4.55 GPA

Standout runner placed 13th in region XC meet and 24th at state

2024 WINNERS

Isabel Yonas

Girls

cross

countrY runner of the Year

South Forsyth senior

Won Region 6-7A meet in 18 minutes, 3 seconds

Placed fourth in Class 7A state meet in 18 minutes, 42 seconds

Katie Andrews GYmnast of the Year

Forsyth Central junior

Won all-around title at state and county meets

Placed top-three in every event at state, including first on bars and floor

2024 WINNERS

Hunter Beenken

footBall offensive

PlaYer of the Year

Horizon Christian junior

Led state in receiving for 8-man

football with 1,012 yards

Jada Starr

flaG footBall

PlaYer of the Year

Denmark junior

Earned Area 6-D3 player of the year

Quarterback led Danes to program’s first-ever area championship

Earned GAPPS all-state honors in football and basketball

2024 WINNERS

Jackson Hogsed

Boys Cross Country runner of the year

Lambert junior

Placed second in Region 6-7A meet in 15 minutes, 28 seconds

Placed second in Class 7A state meet in 15 minutes, 45 seconds

Cate Cummings

Girls lacrosse PlaYer of the Year

West Forsyth senior

Finished regular season with 50 goals and 18 assists

Added 65 draw controls, 25 groundballs and 19 caused turnovers

2024 WINNERS

London Weaver

Girls BasketBall

PlaYer of the Year

North Forsyth junior

Region 8-6A player of the year led Raiders to first state finals appearance

Noah Saylor

BoYs swimmer of the Year

Lambert senior

Won 100-yard breaststroke and 200 freestyle at county championship

Won breaststroke and placed second in 200 IM at Class 7A state meet

Averaged 18.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game

2024 WINNERS

Kedar Desai

BoYs tennis

PlaYer of the Year

South Forsyth senior

Helped War Eagles to unbeaten region record in regular season

University of Michigan signee ranks as a 4-star recruit

Paige Carroll softBall

PlaYer of the Year

West Forsyth junior

Georgia Tech commit earned first-team all-region and second-team all-state

Slashed .510/.523/1.020, while racking up 47 RBIs and 39 runs scored

2024 WINNERS

Noah Danforth

BoYs wrestler of the Year

West Forsyth senior Won Region 6-7A and Class 7A state championships

Finished 55-2 overall, while earning second career state title

Presley Freeman

Girls soccer PlaYer of the Year

West Forsyth senior BYU signee helped lead Wolverines to Region 6-7A title

Scored 9 goals and added 15 assists during regular season

Branson Brooks

footBall defensive PlaYer of the Year

Lambert junior

Earned Region 6-7A defensive player of the year

Recorded 163 tackles (96 solo), eight tackles of loss and seven sacks

2024 WINNERS

Sarah Luskus

Girls swimmer of the Year

West Forsyth senior

Georgia Southern signee won 500 freestyle at county championship

Placed second in breaststroke and third in 200 IM at Class 7A state meet

2024 WINNERS

Artemis Eaton

Girls wrestler of the Year

North Forsyth sophomore

Athena Yoo

Girls Golfer of the Year

Lambert junior

Won individual state and national titles to close 2023 season

Didn’t finish lower than fourth through first seven events in 2024

Won all-classification state title at 115 pounds with 22-second pin in finals

Finished undefeated for second straight season (56-0 in career)

2024 WINNERS

Will Moore

BoYs

BasketBall

PlaYer of the Year

West Forsyth senior

Marshall signee was named top performer for GBCA senior all-star game

Averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game

Hannah Benjamin volleYBall PlaYer of the Year

Fideles Christian senior

University of Kentucky signee led Rangers to GAPPS state title

Recorded 453 kills (7.1 per set), 165 digs and 48 aces

2024 WINNERS

Hannah Cole

softBall Pitcher of the Year

Lambert senior

UAB signee earned Region

6-7A pitcher of the year and first-team all-state

Finished 21-4 in the circle, with a 1.23 ERA, a 0.66 WHIP and 296 strikeouts

Christian Johnson

BoYs track and field athlete of the Year

Denmark senior

Swept county and region titles in 200 (21.41 at region) and 400 (48.42 at county)

Helped lead 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams that were undefeated through region races

Morgan Grace Sheffield

Girls track and field athlete of the Year

Denmark senior

Mississippi State commit won region titles in 1600 (5:10.33) and 3200 (10:51.45)

Didn’t compete in 1600 at county meet but did win 3200 with time of 11:03.30

Athlete of the

YeAr Winners