2nd Annual Gazette Fall Sports Awards Winners
CHILLICOTHE - You watched the nomination videos, you cast your online votes, now it's time to announce the winners of the second annual Chillicothe Gazette Fall Sports Awards.
Across the 10 schools in the Gazette's immediate coverage area and the five sports that make up the fall sports season, there were dozens of individual performers and performances worthy of consideration for a nomination in one of these categories. The Gazette staff had to narrow those down to five per category – certainly a difficult task – and then presented the results to online readers to weigh in with their votes.
The athlete with the most online votes in each category received one vote toward the final total. Gazette managing editor Mike Throne, sports reporter Derrick Webb and sports correspondent Brock Netter, each of whom were involved with coverage of the fall sports season in some capacity, each cast a vote toward the final total, as well.
No player was a unanimous vote, a rarity that shows just how talented each nominee is. One category finished with a 2-2 vote, giving us shared award winners.
The Gazette would like to thank those who cast a vote at chillicothegazette.com for their participation. The number of votes cast ranged from a low of 1,068 in one category to a high of 2,068 in another.
Here are the 2015 Fall Sports Awards winners. The person or event that took the most online votes also is listed under each set of nominees with the percentage and amount of votes received.
FOOTBALL
Offensive Player of the Year
Anthony McFadden, Paint Valley
Online Voter's Choice: Joel Dunkle, Zane Trace (504 votes, 32 percent)
After winning the 2015 SVC Offensive Back of the Year award, the Bearcats' senior quarterback is now also your Gazette Offensive Player of the Year, as well. McFadden passed for 1,611 yards this season — leading the area — alongside 19 passing touchdowns. He also showed that he was a dual threat with 827 yards rushing and nine scores on the ground.
Defensive Player of the Year
Aidan Place, Zane Trace
Online Voter's Choice: Aidan Place (572 votes, 31 percent)
Place led a Pioneers' defense that gave up a regular season average of less than 10 points per contest. At his defensive end position, Place constantly chased down quarterbacks with an area high 13 sacks and wreaked havoc in the backfield all year long. The storied 2015 season for Zane Trace had much to do with Place's play.
Next Level Award
Truman Love, Zane Trace and Teagan McFadden, Paint Valley
Online Voter's Choice: Truman Love (538 votes, 34 percent)
In our only shared award this year, Zane Trace's Truman Love and Paint Valley's Teagan McFadden — both running backs and both seniors — take the cake. Love indeed took his game and his team to the next level with 11 touchdowns on the ground and 735 rushing yards while adding 115 tackles from his linebacker position. McFadden led the area in rushing with 1,460 yards on just 182 carries with 14 touchdowns.
Tough in the Trenches
Isaac Bocook, Chillicothe
Online Voter's Choice: Korey Ramsay, Zane Trace (456 votes, 29 percent)
Bocook was absolutely nasty up front for the Cavaliers in their playoff clinching season. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound behemoth defensive tackle was a force, recording 73 tackles — 15 for a loss — and got his paws on several extra point and field goal attempts.
Unsung Hero
Gavin Snyder, Huntington
Online Voter's Choice: Gavin Snyder, Huntington (468 votes, 26 percent)
Our last football category is a fan favorite and Huntington's Gavin Snyder gets the nod here. While the Huntsmen went just 1-9 this season, Snyder was a welcome bright spot for the team. His best game may have come against conference foe Westfall where he scored four times — three on the ground and once in the air.
VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Year
Cami Chandler, Piketon
Online Voter's Choice: Cami Chandler (525 votes, 31 percent)
In her coming out year, Piketon sophomore Cami Chandler dominated defenses all year long. The Redstreaks' outside hitter finished the season with 372 kills, 195 digs, 32 blocks and 28 aces; good enough for the nod in the Gazette's Player of the Year category. Chandler will return as a junior next season with a chance to defend her newly found hardware.
Setting the Table
Madi Eberst, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: Madi Eberst (459 votes, 28 percent)
Eberst was by far the most successful setter in the area on paper as she registered 835 assists — 134 more than her closest competitor. Along with that number came a healthy 331 digs, 29 blocks and 44 aces from the service line. Eberst will also return next season, as a junior, to defend her crown.
Charlie Hustle Award
Carly Carroll, Adena
Online Voter's Choice: Jordan Morris, Piketon (425 votes, 25 percent)
Carroll's Warriors advanced to the regional semifinals after a district title victory over Zane Trace. Leading the way through the tournament run and a gold ball season was Carroll, who was also named the 2015 SVC Defensive Player of the Year. In total, Carroll dug out 370 balls while continually sacrificing her body for the game.
Unsung Hero
Ella Skeens, Southeastern
Online Voter's Choice: Lea McFadden, Paint Valley (482 votes, 29 percent)
Skeens was the only player in the area who finished in the top five in kills (361), digs (418), blocks (48) and aces (49). While her Panthers finished below .500 and made an early tournament run, Skeens was the focal point of every opponent's game plan.
Serving It Up
Rikki Magill, Huntington
Online Voter's Choice: Bailey Barnes, Southeastern (614 votes, 30 percent)
There's no question Rikki Magill's jump serves had heat on them this season. With 77 aces from the service line, Magill is more than deserving of this accolade. The junior also had 243 kills, 373 digs and 320 assists this year, as well.
BOYS SOCCER
Player of the Year
Darby Pillow, Zane Trace
Online Voter's Choice: Darby Pillow (429 votes, 35 percent)
Pillow led the Pioneers to a 9-4-2 record and a trip to the sectional title game before a loss to Chillicothe. However, during the regular season, Pillow showed his dominance in every position he was put in. Along with running mate Holden Johnson, ZT outdid its expectations coming into 2015.
Defender of the Year
Christian Brown, Chillicothe
Online Voter's Choice: Brody Hinton, Zane Trace (476 votes, 40 percent)
Brown smothered his match-ups all season long and was the anchor of the Cavaliers' defense, one that helped Chillicothe make a district final run with an overall record of 13-3-1. Brown, a youngster, will be back to his defensive prowess next season.
GIRLS SOCCER
Player of the Year
Jayla Campbell, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: Kali Mitten, Southeastern (574 votes, 31 percent)
In just her freshman season, Campbell netted 33 goals for the Shermans and led them into a district semifinal with an overall record of 13-5-1. When you throw in seven assists as well, Campbell had a hand in a total of 40 goals this year. She's currently on pace to shatter the Ross County record of goals in a career (80).
Defender of the Year
Montana Myers, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: McKinley Mitten, Southeastern (627 votes, 37 percent)
Myers made it a clean sweep of the girls soccer hardware for Unioto, winning the Defender of the Year award. The sophomore was key in many victories such as wins over Circleville, Miami Trace and Zane Trace. With a young core, including Myers, the Shermans should be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
CROSS COUNTRY
Boys Runner of the Year
David Magda, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: Mark Scott, Zane Trace (367 votes, 28 percent)
The fact that senior David Magda, the only area all-Ohio on the nominee list, received just 265 votes is still mind-boggling. Magda finished ninth overall at the Division II state cross country meet and dominated area races all season long — there was no one close to him, ever. His senior year included all-Ohio status as well as individual district and regional titles.
Girls Runner of the Year
Haley Wright, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: Ivy Beam, Zane Trace (479 votes, 34 percent)
Sticking with the Unioto train for now, Haley Wright takes home Girls Runner of the Year honors after a magnificent junior season. Wright won conference and district individual titles while finishing fourth at the regional meet.
GIRLS TENNIS
Player of the Year
Carly McCloy, Chillicothe
Online Voter's Choice: Kaylee Valentine, Unioto (345 votes, 32 percent)
While Valentine was certainly a viable option here, Chillicothe's Carly McCloy is the winner. McCloy's Cavaliers won a conference championship behind McCloy's win over her opponent from Wilmington in a marathon match and finished with an overall record of 16-5.
BOYS GOLF
Player of the Year
Peyton Cooper, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: Caleb Arnold, Zane Trace (428 votes, 38 percent)
Cooper was electric on the links all season long and his 2015 SVC Player of the Year award shows that clearly. However, more importantly, his Unioto team was the only area team to make it to the Division II OHSAA state golf meet where Cooper led the team, shooting a two-day total of 166.
GIRLS GOLF
Player of the Year
Emma Knipp, Unioto
Online Voter's Choice: Bethany Johnson, Zane Trace (454 votes, 41 percent)
In our last category of the 2015 Gazette Fall Sports Awards, Unioto's Emma Knipp has been named the 2015 Girls Player of the Year. Knipp, just a sophomore, led the Tanks' team in 2015 and shot a 108 in the Division II sectional tournament — good enough for 13th place individually.
dwebb@chillicothegazette.com
Twitter: @dw1509