Huntsville City Schools is proud to announce the first-ever scholar athletes of the year for each high school.
School administrators, coaching staffs, and school athletic directors selected a male and female scholar athlete to receive the recognitions at each campus.
“The sacrifices and things they learn by being a student athlete will carry them far,” HCS Athletic Director Scott Stapler said. “How to use time, how to take care of their bodies by eating right and resting, persevering when they’re going through a tough time, how to sacrifice with their time, how to be a good teammate, how to be unselfish, self-discipline, and how to handle success and failure. These are all things that make these student athletes leaders on their teams and in their schools.”
Criteria for selection included a 3.25 or higher GPA, participation in at least 50 percent of games, athletic and academic achievements, and conducting themselves in an honorable manner to their team and school.
Superintendent Christie Finley and the Huntsville City Board of Education recognized the scholar athletes at the board meeting on May 17, 2022.
Scholar Athletes of the Year:
| School | Athlete | Sport(s) | Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High | Zoe Salady | Soccer | 4.34 GPA, team captain, SR Class President, HOSA, BETA, NHS, plans to attend University of West Florida |
| Columbia High | Jordan Anglin | Football & Baseball | 3.4 GPA (IB Programme), 3 yr. baseball letterman, 1 yr. football letterman, JROTC Alpha Company Commander, Asst. Captain Eagle Honor Guard and Armed & Unarmed Exhibition Team, plans to attend University of South Alabama |
| Grissom High | Elinore Crane | Softball | 4.47 GPA, captain softball team, capain GHS Academic Team (2X city champs), Hit .750 in area tournament going 3-4, DAR Good Citizen Award, member GHS Math Team, member GHS National Honor Society, plans to attend Ole Miss |
| Grissom High | Efrem Johnson | Basketball | 3.5 GPA, 1st Team All-Area, 2nd Team All-State, HSV City Classic All-Tournament Team, Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, 1600 point scorer, plans to attend UAB |
| Huntsville High | Kathryn Wegler | Soccer | 4.52 GPA, 2022 HHS Most Valuable Striker, 2021 HHS Most Improved, 2020 Alabama Div. 1 State Club Team Champions, 4x A Honor Roll, student council secretary, VP in NHS and Mu Alpha Theta, HHS Bryant-Jordan Scholarship nominee, Presidential Nomination for appointment to USMA, plans to attend USMA |
| Huntsville High | Will Penson | Cross-Country & Track | 3.48 GPA,7A Cross-Country Individual State Champion (2nd fastest time in AHSAA history), 7A Cross-Country Section 4 Individual Champion, 2021 HSV Metro Runner of the Year, 4x 7A Cross-Country State Team Champion, 4x 7A All-State Runner, Huntsville HS Team Captain, plans to attend University of Alabama |
| Lee High | Je'Nyiah Silas | Basketball | 4.1 GPA, academic honor roll, All-Area team, All Northwest regional team, Northwest Regional MVP, 5A State Runner-up, 5A All-State, plans to attend Miles College |
| Lee High | Angela Garcia | Football | 3.4 GPA, academic honor roll, All-City Football Team, team leading tackler (Jr. & Sr.), starting goalkeeper for soccer |
| Jemison High | Elise Walker | Wrestling & Softball | 4.20 GPA (College Academy), 3rd place finish in AHSAA Championships, 2nd Place Hewitt Invitational, 1st Place Arab Invitational, 13 wins this season, softball team captain, plans to attend UAH |
| Jemison High | Nathan Shultz | Wrestling | 4.16 GPA (College Academy), 1st Place Jaguar Invitational, 2nd Place Jets Invitational, 15 wins this season, plans to attend University of Alabama |