In every team, there are always athletes that excel and standout within their respective sport and the talent level across the Douglas County area was not an exception. In a county filled with tremendous athletes, the girls Player of the Year awards ironically go to best friends and county rivals, Ashton Lord and Brittany Truitt. Putting up outstanding numbers in both of their respective regions, this year it was only fitting to hand out the award to both.
Chapel Hill head coach Kelly Williams said that Lord is such a talented runner and her work ethic to make not only herself, but her team the best that they can be, is impeccable. Lord placed a very solid and impressive run at state, bringing home a time of 20:48.13 and an eighth place finish. During the Region 4-AAA championship, she ran a personal record time of 18:52.45, coming in first.
“I know she is going to go on to do great things in her career”, said Williams. “She is obviously very talented and just a naturally blessed runner.”
Williams was impressed from day one of Lord’s goals and stated that she plans to continue to run after high school. The Chapel Hill senior’s talent has caught the attention of several Division One schools and although she has visited several potential prospects, does not plan to announce her selection until 2013.
Truitt, on the other hand, represented Alexander at the top of the leader boards all season, earning her a nod as well for Player of the Year. According to head coach Brian Robinson, Truitt was just an all-around talent, who excelled at not only Cross Country, but track also. Truitt was extremely consistent and competitive in what she does and Richardson stated that she just works so hard to continue getting better.
“You know, Brittany is such a great kid and so deserving”, said Richardson. “She was a leader and always there when you needed her.”
Running a 20:35.16 in the 5000m in state, Truitt finished eighth. During the 5-AAAA Region meet, Truitt ran a personal record 19:00.06, blowing away the competition with a first place finish.
Also a senior, Robinson said that Truitt is currently looking and weighing her options as far as her college career, but definitely wants to continue running and competing. It is predicted that she will also announce where she will be attending sometime this spring.
Not only was there a lot of talent and competition within the girls, but the boys also showcased an array of gifted runners too. However, over the course of the 2012 season, one runner stepped up to the challenge and to the forefront of his peers, to earn himself Player of the Year honors.
This year, Alexander’s Broc DuCharme proved himself as the total package and according to Robinson, is primed to become one of the best runners that their school has ever watched. Some of his numbers this year included a 17:21.82 in the 5000m at state and a twelfth place finish. In the 5-AAAA Region meet, he earned a personal record with 16:10.09, finishing third.
“We’ve just scratched the surface of Broc’s talent”, said Robinson. “He definitely has what it takes to explode and he just keeps getting better and more confident in his abilities.”
Not only does DuCharme excel on the field, but is the total package when it comes to academics as well and holds a 4.0 GPA. Robinson said that DuCharme is an athlete that every coach would love to have the opportunity to work with and he knows that going forward will accomplish big things.
This year, the county was fortunate in having such solid talent to fill their cross country programs. One program in particular rose to the top, having two dedicated boys and girls squads, which impressed at not only the region level, but the state level as well. After their boys finished a solid second at state and the girls following up with third, the Team of the Year accolades goes to Alexander High School.
Combined, both teams had solid records and put together stellar numbers on paper. According to Robinson, this was a great year for Cross Country at Alexander. He stated that both groups had a very dedicated work ethic to the sport and just simply put, were coachable.
“This group just has so much talent and just a joy for me to coach”, said Robinson. “This is a special group of kids and you just did not have to worry about them putting in the time and not practicing.”
After having one of their best seasons and leading his team to state competition for the first time in several years, Douglas County head coach Chet Forsh walks away with this year’s Boys Coach of the Year honor. Also, moving into a different region this year, Forsh stated that he felt that this season would be the time to take advantage and that his team had a chance to go further.
“We just focused on having a good meet once we got to region and came out with the top five scores, all from underclassmen”, said Forsh. “This was an exciting opportunity for this young team and we took advantage of what we were given.”
Forsh stated that his group began giving 100 percent during the first practice in June and he knew the he had a special and dedicated group.
“These athletes really made me feel good this year and the way they bought into this program was just wonderful”, said Forsh.
After such an impressive year from both schools and the notable accolades their teams combined collected, the Girls Coach of the Year goes to both Chapel Hill’s Kelly Williams and Alexander’s Brian Robinson. Both teams were tough not only regionally, but at the state level as well.
Williams stated that she had a lot of talent on her squad, most notably Ashton Lord, but definitely had several runners with very high goals that produced great results for Chapel Hill.
As for Robinson, he was pleased with both teams having a great season and also impressed with their dedication and work ethic.
“This group was so great to be a part of and coach”, said Robinson. “They were all very special to me.”
After such an impressive year, listed below are the 2012 Douglas County Sentinel All-County team finalists:
Team of the Year
Alexander- Girls
Alexander- Boys
Coach of the Year
Chet Forsh (DCHS)- Boys
Brian Robinson (AHS)- Girls
Kelly Williams (CHHS)- Girls
Runner of the Year
Ashton Lord (CHHS)- Girls
Brittany Truitt (AHS)- Girls
Broc DuCharme (AHS)- Boys
1st Team Girls:
Ashton Lord- Chapel Hill
Brittany Truitt- Alexander
Meagan Shaughnessy- Douglas County
Angelica Henderson- Lithia Springs
Darby Demarest- Chapel Hill
1st Team Boys:
Broc DuCharme- Alexander
Cameron Lord- Chapel Hill
Danny Shaughnessy- Douglas County
Paul McLoud- Chapel Hill
Michael Scansy- Alexander
2nd Team Girls:
Hope Kimberly- Chapel Hill
Cyntrecia Anderson- Lithia Springs
Chloe Camp- Alexander
Kaneisha Mixon- Chapel Hill
Amber Jent- Alexander
2nd Team Boys:
Jacob King- Alexander
Jordan Howell- Alexander
Cantrell Jackson- Alexander
DaQuante Pearson- New Manchester
Sergio Ruiz- Lithia Springs
Honorable Mentions:
Corrina Milner- Lithia Springs
Jakarla Hill- Lithia Springs
Eyonnti Edwards- Chapel Hill
Clera West- Chapel Hill
Avery Rains- Chapel Hill
Wes Rohling- Lithia Springs
Jesus Murillo- Lithia Springs
Caleb Peppers- Lithia Springs
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