The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is the nation’s largest high school sports recognition program, celebrating the best in high school sports in cities and states across the country.
The awards will be given to dozens of elite student-athletes in a myriad of sports during the July 31, 2022, national show aired via the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards website, YouTube and the USA TODAY channel available on most televisions and smart devices.
During the national show, viewers will be introduced to stellar artists who have demonstrated resilience, determination, humility, competitiveness and work ethic to a great extent – representing their families, schools and communities.
Here is a look at some of the great results that will be recognized during the national show:
Cross-country club Lakeland Regional High School (NJ) has crowned a splendid senior season capturing the gold medal of the New Jersey State 2021 Meet of Champions Interscholastic Athletic Association. And she came within five seconds of earning first honors at the Eastbay National Championships in San Diego in December. The University of Florida Perez, is a candidate for All-USA TODAY HSSA Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
“I feel like this sport has changed me in the best way possible and given me opportunities that I have never had before,” he said. “It helped me grow in confidence and just in general, as a person.”
Hartland High School (MI) cross-country champion Riley Hough finished her senior campaign securing a second consecutive individual crown from the Michigan High School Division 1 cross country athletics association. And he was the first runner to record a time under 15 minutes twice at Michigan International Speedway – the site of the state championships.
Michigan State University-bound Hough, a candidate for All-USA TODAY HSSA Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, is great at preparing and pursuing challenges.
“I like being able to try it myself,” he said. “I like to push myself to the limit – determine if there’s anything I can improve and work to get to that point.”
Former West Orange High School (NJ) Kieryn Knox has played seven perfect games, requiring 12 consecutive hits to reach a 300-point mark. He finished his senior year with the Mountaineers claiming the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Boys . Title of Individual Bowling Finals.
Knox will continue his school and athletic activities at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta, Georgia, has earned the honor of the All-State First Team for his accomplishments in the courses and is among the nominees for All-USA TODAY High School Sports. Boys Bowler of the Year Awards. He completed a field of 100 bowlers to come out as the state champion.
“I want to be remembered as someone who did the hard work,” he said. “It wasn’t easy to get here and between the help I got from my coaches and others, I was able to help my team be successful.”
When the state championship series of the Eastern Regional High School (NJ) field hockey team was interrupted at 21 straight due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Vikings did not unravel it. Led by midfielder / forward All-America Heck, the team has proceeded to return to championship form in 2021.
The stellar game and resolution is why Heck, who won the first team honor of the All-America National Hockey Coaches Association and helped the Eastern Regional High School to a 25-2 record, is among the candidates for All-USA TODAY HSSA Field Hockey Player of the Year. .
The University of North Carolina-bound Heck is determined to sell a result derived from a unit that functions as one.
“We all have the same goal,” he said of the Vikings. “It’s about working hard and winning with my teammates. The emphasis is on achieving the team’s goals. It’s about the team and concentrating on what we want to do as a team to succeed.”
It has often been said that there are countless life lessons to be learned from the sport of football. For Powell High School (TN) Walter Nolen III’s defensive attack, the first step out of the game is perseverance.
“The game has taught me to never give up on anything,” said Nolen, an All-USA TODAY HSSA Defensive Football Player of the Year candidate. “It’s important to continue to work and stay humble. The goal is to improve as a team every day.”
Nolen has amassed 85 total tackles (74 solo) to pair with 31 tackles per loss and 14 sacks on the road to help the Panthers to the 2021 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Class 5A state championship. After accumulating dozens of college scholarship offers, he chose the University of Texas A&M as the place from which to continue his school and athletic activities.
