No matter what happens next, none of us will forget the last few months. None of us will ever forget 2020 and all the twists and turns it presented us with.
Most notably in my life and for many of you, that has meant no sports, and no school for the last two months of the school year.
I wanted to take time to reflect on high school sports that took place during the 2019-20 school year, and hand out some mythical awards as athletes, coaches, and teams specifically caught my eye and helped make my job worth while.
This year was a special one for Southmont athletics. The Mounties won fall sectional titles in boys tennis, girls golf and soccer, and volleyball. They also captured a girls swim sectional title and wrestling Sagamore Conference championship in the winter. The athletic year will go down as one of the best in the history of the school.
I thoroughly enjoyed covering each of these sectional title teams, and watching them make history. Capturing those moments along with Crawfordsville’s boys swimming sectional title is something that I will never forget. Hats off to those athletes and coaches for accomplishing those championships.
Now to recognize some athletes, coaches, and teams that especially caught my eye. Southmont will be heavy in this selection, and rightfully so.
Team of the Year
There were many great choices for this honor with so many sectional title teams.
However, the award goes to Southmont girls soccer. Under the direction of first-year coach Phil Keller, the recent Bethel grad guided the Mounties to an 8-6-2 record, their third-straight sectional title, and all the way to the regional final before losing to the eventual state champion in Park Tudor. Seniors Lexie Odum, Mia Myers, and Claire Remley led the way.
Assistant Coach of the Year
I’ve always thought it would be fun to have an award dedicated specifically for this, so here’s my chance.
Southmont assistant golf coach Dave Williamson gets the nod. Williamson, who in the past has been the varsity boys golf coach and basketball coach, helped his head coach in Bill Whalen lead five seniors to the first sectional title in school history, and a 10th place finish at the regional. Those five seniors were Logan Berrisford, Lexi Rusk, Bailey Thompson, Carson White, and Erin Williams.
Like Whalen told me after the season, “I told Dave we are going to go into practice together — Williamson and Whalen. He’s going to be the swing doctor, and I’m going to be the psychiatrist. He would get their swings down, and when they were having a bad round, I would walk them off the ledge. Because obviously Dave is an excellent and great teacher, and I credit him with their swings.”
Williamson’s touch is simply that good.
Coach of the Year
I’ll give you a hint. It’s another Mountie.
There are so many coaches that are worthy, but what Southmont swim and dive coach Jane Coudrets’ best swimmer said about her set her far apart from everyone else.
“My coach (Coudret) played a huge part in both mine and the team’s success this year,” Emma Tyler said. “I can’t say enough good things about her and her coaching style. She’s definitely the best and most influential coach I’ve had my whole life. She really helped me achieve my goals to get better throughout the season which is pretty difficult at this point in my career.”
In her second season of guiding her alma mater, Coudret led the Mounties to their first sectional title since 2001.
Female Mental Attitude Winner (Senior)
It’s hard not to appreciate the work ethic and drive Crawfordsville’s Lauren Kellerman put into her stellar athletic career.
What’s even more admirable is how humble she was with her success, and how she helped her team in any way she could.
Kellerman picked up volleyball as a new sport for her senior season, and learned the skill with patience and eagerness. In basketball, she laid it all out on the floor.
And if she would have had the opportunity to chase the state lead in her senior softball season, I’m sure she would have done it in a classy way.
Male Mental Attitude Winner (Senior)
I’ve never met an athlete who was more parallel with being a team player than Southmont’s Conner McVay.
On the basketball court McVay was the hardest worker in practice, a bruiser in games, and the loudest cheerleader on the sidelines.
And I’m sure in tennis he would have been the loudest one cheering on his teammates too, but we will never know as he was almost always the last to finish his No. 3 singles matches.
Female Athlete of the Year
There are very few athletes in this area that have shined as bright in two separate athletic seasons as Southmont’s Sidney Veatch.
While the junior was in the shadow of senior Lexi Nelson in volleyball, she was one of the top setters in the area, and helped lead the Mounties to a sectional title. She is also already committed to IUPUI.
In basketball she took Southmont from a 6-win team in 2019 to 13 wins this season while averaging a double-double.
The best part is Veatch will be back next season for the Mounties.
Male Athlete of the Year
North Montgomery’s Drew Webster was equally as impressive as Southmont’s Veatch in his football and wrestling campaigns, but the Chargers’ Jaron Bradford stat stuffing seasons flew under the radar for the entire year.
Bradford threw for 1,683 yards and 24 touchdowns, while he rushed for 365 yards and another nine scores in football, while helping lead the Chargers to their first winning season since 2015.
In basketball, the senior led the Chargers with 10.8 points per game, and also to their first winning season since 2016.
This spring Bradford committed to continue his track and field career at Wabash College as a high jumper, so we can only imagine what would have been in store for his final senior season.
As we officially close the book on the 2019-20 sports year, one thing is for certain.
We will never forget it.
Jared McMurry was born and raised in Montgomery County and is the Sports Editor of the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at jmcmurry@jrpress.com and by phone at 765-918-8656. Follow him on Twitter @jaredmac26
