Boyle County High freshman impresses in Bass Fishing
(Midway, Ky.) – The first-ever Midway University/KHSAA Female Student Athlete of the Year Award was presented to Boyle County High School student Hannah Wesley on Saturday, May 14. The freshman, who gave up a softball career to focus on bass fishing, led the way for the Rebels during the 2015-16 season, finishing as her team’s Angler of the Year.
Head coach David Christopher said that while Wesley’s strong finishes in several tournaments were impressive, it was her spirit that set her apart. “Hannah is not only the best student-angler we have, but she is also a great teammate. She never took offense to the pressure she would get from the boys on team. In defeat she was gracious, and in a win, humble.”
The judging panel, selected by Midway University and the KHSAA seemed to agree, calling her “…a great ambassador for the sport of bass fishing,” and noting that she “seems to be a confident team leader.”
Away from competition, Wesley is strongly involved in her community. She attends Pleasant Run Baptist Church in Parksville, Ky. where she volunteers every year for vacation bible school. She has also given back to the sport she loves so much, speaking to other women about bass fishing and the sport of bass fishing at Sportsman Warehouse in Lexington, Ky. where she demonstrated flipping, tying knots, etc. to a diverse audience.
“As we reviewed the nominations, it became clear that Hannah is a special athlete, student and community member,” said Dr. John P. Marsden, President, Midway University. “It’s a great honor for us to present the first Midway University/KHSAA Female Student Athlete of the Year Award to such a well-rounded young woman.”
About the Midway University/KHSAA Female Student Athlete of the Year Awards
Nomination Process:
School administrators and/or coaches can nominate any qualified female high school student-athlete. Players can be nominated and win in more than one sport and are eligible to be nominated and win in multiple years of competition.
Judging Criteria
A panel of judges selected by Midway University and the KHSAA will review all nominations and make the selection of each individual sport Female Student-Athlete of the Year. The nominations will be judged on 60 percent weighting of overall athletic achievement, 20 percent academic achievement and 20 percent community service/leadership. In the event of a tie, the judges will have the discretion to select the final winner. Individual winners in each sport will be eligible for the overall Athlete of the Year Award, which will presented in May 2017.
Nominees must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify and be academically eligible to play in the season in which they are/were nominated.