Sports

Both the Boys and Girls DCHS tennis teams won their matches against White County at home on Tuesday afternoon. The boys won their match 7 – 2 while the girls won 6 – 3. Tennis matches consist of six singles matches and three doubles matches. Scores are below.

Girls vs. White Co. 3/16/2021
Name: Score
No. 1 Katie Colwell L 0-8
No. 2 Leah Davis L 2-8
No. 3 Summer Morse W 8-1
No. 4 Caitlyn Harwell W 8-4
No. 5 Sadie Driver W 8-0
No. 6 forfeit W

Doubles
No. 1 Colwell/Davis L 2-8
No. 2 Morse/Harwell W 8-4
No. 3 forfeit W

Boys vs. White Co. 3/16/2021
Name Score
No. 1 Garret Hayes W 8-5
No. 2 Levi Driver W 8-0
No. 3 Ian Paladino W 8-0
No. 4 Brett Walker L 6-8
No. 5 Nathaniel Wessel W 8-5
No. 6 Dylan Trapp L 6-8

Doubles
No. 1 Hayes/Driver W 8-0
No. 2 Paladino/Wessel W 8-0
No. 3 Walker/Isaac Brown W 8-1

The DeKalb Lady Saints softball team defeated Prescott 13-2 on Thursday thanks to an eight run second inning. Bryana Pelham, Laurie Rigsby, A Cuevas, Zayleigh Washer, and Annabella Dakas each had RBI in the 2nd inning.

Saints tallied eight runs in the second inning. Saints 14U’s big inning was driven by walks by Rigsby and Cuevas, a triple by Washer, a single by Pelham, and a double by Dakas.

Kora Kilgore was credited with the victory for the Lady Saints . The lefty surrendered two runs on two hits over three innings, striking out ten and walking one.

The Lady Saints collected 11 hits. Washer, Pelham, Avery Agee, and Dakas each managed multiple hits for the Saints 14U. Washer went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Saints in hits.

Eight DCHS basketball players have received All-District honors.

The selections were announced Friday.

(Click link below to view Boys and Girls District Tournament Basketball brackets)

FILE_9620 (pdf)

Evans Jones of the Tiger basketball team was named to the 2nd Team All-District while Brayden Antoniak made the All-District Defensive Team. Jordan Young and Elishah Ramos earned Honorable Mention.

Kadee Ferrell of the Lady Tigers made the 1st Team All-District and the All-District Defensive Team. Ella VanVranken was named the District’s Freshman of the Year and she made the 3rd Team All-District. Cadee Griffith was named to the District’s All-Freshman Team while Megan Cantrell and Watertown’s Brittni Allison shared the honor of being the District’s Most Improved Players of the Year.

Alex Rush and Reagan Hurst of Upperman were named the District’s Most Valuable Players. Dana McWilliams of Upperman was named the Girl’s District Coach of the Year while Bobby McWilliams of Upperman and Roy Whited of York Institute shared the honor of being the Boy’s District Coaches of the Year.

The DCHS Basketball teams, seeded 6th, will make their debut in the District 8 AA Tournament Monday night, February 15 in Smithville hosting Smith County, seeded 7th.

The Lady Tigers will face the Owlettes at 6 p.m. followed by the Tigers game with the Owls. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

DISTRICT 8 AA ALL-DISTRICT SELECTIONS (BOYS)

Player of the Year: Alex Rush-Upperman

Coach of the Year: Bobby McWilliams-Upperman and Roy Whited-York Institute

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Rush-Upperman

All Defensive Team: Collin Gore-Upperman, Nick Smith-York Institute, Eli Melton-Livingston Academy, Q. Hughes Malone-Watertown, and Brayden Antoniak-DeKalb County.

Freshman of the Year: Bryson Bilbrey-York Institute and Miles Leffew-York Institute

All Freshman Team: A.J. Armstrong-Cannon County, Peyton Hix-Smith County, Theo Winters-Cannon County, and Zach Byrd-York Institute.

Most Improved Player: Jonathan Heddings-York Institute

1^st Team All-District: Collin Gore-Upperman,  Matthew Sells-Livingston Academy, Riley Cooper-York Institute, Nick Smith-York Institute, and Gus Davenport-Cannon County

2^nd Team: Q. Hughes Malone-Watertown, Evan Jones-DeKalb County, Jonathan Heddings-York Institute, Eli Scarlett-Watertown, and Jace McWilliams-Upperman

3^rd Team: Jaxon Fox-Upperman, Lavell Rogers-Cannon County, Braydee Brooks-Macon County, Eli Melton-Livingston Academy, and Nick Choate-Livingston Academy

Honorable Mention: A.J. Armstrong-Cannon County, Jordan Young-DeKalb County, Elishah Ramos-DeKalb County, Conner Johnson-Macon County, Dennis West-Smith County, Matthew Sinclair-Smith County, Brayden Holliman-Smith County, A.J. Nash-Upperman, Brayden Cousino-Watertown, Miles Leffew-York Institute, and Bryson Bilbrey-York Institute

DISTRICT 8 AA ALL-DISTRICT SELECTIONS (GIRLS)

Player of the Year: Reagan Hurst-Upperman

Coach of the Year: Dana McWilliams-Upperman

Defensive Player of the Year: Brooklyn Crouch-Upperman

All Defensive Team: Abby Shoulders-Macon County,  Haylee Johnson-York Institute,  Kadee Ferrell- DeKalb County,  Reagan Hurst-Upperman, and Jaylnn Gregory-Macon County

Freshman of the Year: Ella VanVranken-DeKalb County

All Freshman Team: Merissa Spivey-Smith County, Mallie Gene Coleman-Livingston Academy, Kierah Maklary-Watertown, Cadee Griffith-DeKalb County, and Madison King-Watertown.

Most Improved Player: Megan Cantrell-DeKalb County and Brittni Allison-Watertown.

1^st Team All-District: Jaylnn Gregory-Macon County, Haylee Johnson-York Institute, Kadee Ferrell-DeKalb County, Brooklyn Crouch-Upperman, and Emma Christensen-Watertown.

2^nd Team: Abby Shoulders-Macon County, Aleah Melton-Livingston Academy, Torie Brooks-Upperman, Aiyana Levy- Upperman, and Gabby Beaty-York Institute.

3^rd Team: Brittni Allison-Watertown,  Keaton Webb-Livingston Academy,  Ella VanVranken-DeKalb County,  Ellie Leffew-York Institute, and Abigail Johnson-Upperman.

Honorable Mention: Shelby Smithson-Cannon County, Hailey Cronk- Livingston Academy, Allie Qualls-Livingston Academy, Saranda Woodson-Macon County, Emma Enoch-Smith County, Addie Hawkins-Smith County, Anna Vinning-Smith County, Merissa Spivey-Smith County, Anna Grace McClain-Upperman, Jayla Cobb-Upperman, Daejah Maklary-Watertown, Sage Smith-York Institute, and MiKaela Reagan-York Institute.

FILE_9620 (pdf)

Senior quarterback Axel Aldino was named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. Meanwhile Talon Billings, a senior received the Most Valuable Player Football Cheerleader Award.

The trophies were presented to Aldino and Billings respectively by Tiger Football Coach Steve Trapp and Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller.

“In his four year 40 game career as quarterback, MVP Axel threw for 61 touchdowns and had 5,848 passing yards. He completed 369 passes out of 639 attempts with 22 interceptions and 43 sacks. Aldino had 472 carries running the ball for 2,024 yards and 24 touchdowns. A job well done,” said Coach Trapp.

Aldino’s high school career awards and honors include the following:

2020: Region 3-4A MVP and 1st Team All Region
2020: Tennessee Football Coaches Association All State
2020: DTC Player of the Year
2020: Mr. Football Semi-Finalist
2020: Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Combine Invitee
2020: Tennessee Football Coaches Association Division 1 Class 4A All State Team
2020: Preseason Academic All American
2020: Preseason All State (Murphy Fair)
2020: 615 Preps All Area Offense 1st Team
2020: 615 Preps Player of the Week
University of Central Missouri Football Commit
Team voted Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019
Region 3-4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and 1st Team All Region
Region 3-4A Most Outstanding Quarterback in 2018 and 1st Team All Region
2020-21 Quarterback for Team Tennessee 7 on 7

Meanwhile senior Jasper Kleparek received the Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award presented by members of Edwards’ family, Abram Edwards and Sarah Rathbone, son and daughter, and their mother Tena Edwards-Jacobs. Kleparek also received the Special Teams Player of the Year and the All-Region Most Outstanding Kicker honor. Prior to the 2020 season, Kleparek had never played high school football but he quickly excelled after joining the team in the second game of the year and he never missed an extra point or field goal kick in eleven games.

In presenting the MVC Award, Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller talked about Billings’ determination and the example she set for her fellow cheerleaders.

“She has been cheering for a very long time at school and in competitions. She cheered for basketball at middle school but thankfully changed to football cheering in high school. I remember the excitement of the girls on the team when they found out she was trying out for football cheerleading. I didn’t really know how good she was at that time but I soon found out. From the first day she has been one of the easiest people to work with and for others to get along with. She is always smiling and respectful to others. When it comes to stunts she is always willing to try whatever we ask her to do. Her experience and talent have given her the ability to be successful in most of the things we have asked her to do. She has been an example to her team on how to work hard and persevere and not worry about the little things. We will certainly miss seeing her in the air and cheering on the sidelines,” said Coach Fuller.

The season ended for the Tigers in the second round of the state playoffs in November at 7-5 although one of the losses was not on the field but a COVID-19 forfeit to Cumberland County. The 2020 Tigers made history by being the first DCHS football team to win a regular season region championship and the first to host back to back state playoff football games in Smithville.

Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:
Offensive Player of the Year- Desmond Nokes
Offensive Lineman- Caven Ponder
Offensive Back- Colby Barnes
Receiver- Trevonte (T.J.) Alexander
Defensive Player of the Year- Isaiah Harrington
Defensive Lineman- Evan Jones
Linebacker- Aidan Curtis
Defensive Back- Isaac Knowles
Special Teams Player- Jasper Kleparek
Most Improved-Silas Cross
MVP- Axel Aldino
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Jasper Kleparek
Scout Team Player of the Year: Ari White
Newcomer of the Year: Wil Farris

Seventeen players and four coaches on the 2020 DCHS football team earned All-Region honors in Region 3-4A.

Tiger Coach Steve Trapp was the Region’s Coach of the Year while members of his staff earned the following region honors:
Offensive Assistant Coach Michael Shaw, Defensive Assistant Coach Thomas Cagle, and Special Teams Coach Corey Rathbone.

Tiger players with Region honors are as follows:
Most Valuable Player: Axel Aldino
Defensive MVP: Isaiah Harrington
Offensive MVP: Desmond Nokes
Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Isaac Knowles
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Caven Ponder
Most Outstanding Wide Receiver: Trevonte (TJ) Alexander
Most Outstanding Kicker: Jasper Kleparek
All Region 1st Team: Evan Jones, Peyton Leaf, Diego Coronado, Bryan Portillo, Ean Jones, and Aiden Curtis
All Region 2nd Team: Colby Barnes, Josh May, Antwon McCoy, and Wil Ferris.

Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:
Most Valuable Cheerleader- Talon Billings
Most Spirited- Sadie West
Best Dancer- Keirstine Robinson
Best Cheer-Presley Agee
Best Stunts-Hannah Trapp
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility-Presley Agee
Best Jumps-Addison Puckett

The DCHS basketball teams failed to even the score with York Institute Friday night as the Dragons and Dragonettes came to town and completed a season sweep of the Tigers and Lady Tigers.

The Dragonettes handed the Lady Tigers a 58 to 47 defeat while the Dragons beat the Tigers 62 to 56.

In the last meeting on January 2 at Jamestown, the Lady Tigers lost 51 to 45 while the Tigers were defeated 66 to 52.

The girls game was tied at 11 after the 1st period but the Lady Tigers were down 26 to 20 by halftime and trailed 43 to 34 after the 3rd period before falling 58 to 47.

Ella VanVranken scored 16 followed by Kadee Ferrell 11, Megan Cantrell 10, Madison Martin 4, Natalie Snipes 3, Summer Crook 2 and Cadee Griffith with 1.

For the boys, the Tigers got behind 13 to 9 by the end of the 1st period and trailed 28 to 25 at halftime, and 48 to 39 after the 3rd period before losing 62 to 56.

Evan Jones scored 13., Brayden Antoniak 12, Elishah Ramos 9, Luke Jenkins and Jordan Young each with 8, and Stetson Agee 6.

The Tigers are 7-8 (3-5) and the Lady Tigers sport a record of 7-9 (2-6). The Dragons are 11-7 (6-0) and the Dragonettes own a record of 15-3 (6-1).

DeKalb County will host Livingston Academy Tuesday night, January 26 starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys contest. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.