GIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR
NICOLE GARDNER, Siegel, freshman
Why chosen: She posted the fastest time (18:52.83) of any runner from Middle Tennessee at the state meet, where she finished second in Class AAA. Gardner ran the fastest time (18:09) of any runner from Tennessee at the Foot Locker South Regional, where she finished 34th.
College plans: “I think I will run in college, probably.” Gardner hasn’t heard from any colleges yet.
Quote: “I love the team, everybody on it. It’s a great bunch of people and I love being around them.”
Family: Parents Brent and Nancy, brother Andrew, 18; half-brothers Matthew, 28; and Nathan, 28; Jack Russell terrier, Kate; beagle/labrador retriever mix, Jordan.
What's on your iPod? Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Chris Tomlin, Nickelback.
Best high school sports moment: “Probably when the team went to (the Flrunners.com Invitational in Titusville, Fla.) because almost all of us had a really good race. Almost everybody got a personal record.”
Favorite athlete: Tim Tebow.
Best video game: “I don’t really play video games.”
Is this your best sport? “Yes. I used to play soccer, but I quit that when I got into high school. I will run track. I think I’m doing the (3,200-meter run) and the (1,600).”
Best Christmas gift you could get: “My parents would not allow me, but if I could I’d have another dog. I really want a big dog.”
FIRST TEAM
ALLISON CHEESEMAN, Brentwood Acad., Sophomore
Why chosen: She finished second in Division II-AA with a 19:08.23 and won the A.F. Bridges Invitational in 19:49.30.
REAGAN
FREEMAN,
Harpeth Hall, Freshman
Why chosen: Freeman won the Division II-AA title in 18:59.32 and also took first in the Tennessee Classic silver division (19:21.37).
ERIKA PEOPLES, Ravenwood, Senior
Why chosen: She finished fourth in Class AAA in 19:08.58 and her personal record was 18:27.
RACHEL WOOTEN, Franklin, Senior
Why chosen: The Division I prospect finished third in Class AAA with an 18:56.44 and won the Region 6-AAA title in 19:03.68.
SECOND TEAM
Brittany Alexander, Sr., Brentwood
Barbara Lee Ball, Jr., David Lipscomb
Hannah Denton, Jr., Dickson Co.
Jessica Rizor, Fr., Beech
Julia Rizor, Fr., Beech
THIRD TEAM
Gabriela Herrera, So., Hillsboro
Emily Peters, So., St. Cecilia
Emma Sloan, Fr., Ensworth
Claudia Smith, Fr., Central Magnet
Chandler Washburn, So., FRA
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR
PETER MUELLER, Ravenwood
Why chosen: Ravenwood became the second Midstate girls team to win a Class AAA championship, edging Science Hill by six points. Ravenwood also won the District 11-AAA title, Region 6-AAA title, and the Williamson County championship as the Lady Raptors went undefeated against Tennessee opponents. Ravenwood took second at the Tiger Run in Louisville, Ky., and the Junior Ward Tennessee Classic gold division in addition to third at the Jesse Owens Invitational in Oakville, Ala.
Quote: “We had great leadership from Erika (Peoples) and Rachel (Spinden). They’re two of our best of all-time and they were seniors. We also just had a lot more depth than we’ve ever had. The gap between our two, three, four and five was about 20 seconds at the state championship meet, so it was a real team effort. It wasn’t just one or two people up front.”
RECENT GIRLS RUNNERS OF THE YEAR
2010: Hannah Denton, Dickson Co.
2009: Barbara Lee Ball, David Lipscomb
2008: Kathy Kroeger, Independence
2007: Kathy Kroeger, Independence
2006: Kathy Kroeger, Independence
BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR
DANIEL PETERS, MBA, Senior
Why chosen: Peters won the Division II-AA title in 15:57.31, the fastest time in any classification. He also took first at the Metro Nashville Championship and the Gatorland Run in Bowling Green, Ky. and second at the Southeast Showdown in Hoover, Ala. He was seventh at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional in Cary, N.C., earning Nike all-region recognition for the second straight year.
College plans: Villanova and Washington University in St. Louis have shown interest.
Quote: “I just enjoy that cross country is so simple. Anyone can do it. Everyone can get to a park or run in the neighborhood. It’s definitely the most primitive sport. It requires a lot of mental toughness and self-discipline, and that’s what I enjoy most.”
Family: Parents Mark and Mary; brothers Michael, 18; Will, 13; Tom, 13; sisters Emily, 15; Clare, 12.
What's on your iPod? FratBeats.com playlist, Smash Mouth, 3LAU.
Best high school sports moment: “MBA sweeping state in 2010. We had the top five spots and it had never been done in Tennessee history before, and we set a course record at Steeplechase.”
Favorite athlete: Shan Foster, former Vanderbilt basketball player.
Best video game: Super Smash Bros.
Is this your best sport? “Yeah, definitely. I used to play ultimate frisbee. I’ll probably get back into frisbee in college. I do track and church basketball. I do the 3,200-meter race, the 1,600, the 800 and occasionally the 4 x 800 in track.”
Best Christmas gift you could get: “I really want some cowboy boots.”
FIRST TEAM
BROCK BAKER, Oakland, Junior
Why chosen: Baker collapsed from dehydration while leading the Class AAA meet with about 400 meters left. He won the Jesse Owens and Midstate meets.
CONLEY CHITWOOD, Ravenwood, Senior
Why chosen: Chitwood finished fourth in Class AAA in 16:10.52 and his personal record was 15:59 at the Jesse Owens Invitational.
PAUL STUART, Brentwood, Senior
Why chosen: Stuart finished second in Class AAA in 16:01.28 and won the Chickasaw Invitational.
CONNER THOMPSON, Oakland, Junior
Why chosen: Thompson finished seventh in Class AAA in 16:18.63 and won the Midstate points championship.
SECOND TEAM
Eric Anderson, So., MBA
Kris Howard, Sr., Independence
Sam Klockenkemper, Jr., M.L. King
Alec Thomas, So., Brentwood
Nathan Thomas, Sr., Brentwood
THIRD TEAM
Garrett Bull, So., Brentwood Acad.
Taylor Caldwell, So., Brentwood
David Lowery, Jr., David Lipscomb
Miles Malbrough, Sr., Beech
Aaron Thomas, So., Brentwood
RECENT BOYS RUNNERS OF THE YEAR
2010: Michael Peters, MBA
2009: Jake Rainey, Rossview
2008: Jake Rainey, Rossview
2007: Sean Keveren, Brentwood
2006: Sean Keveren, Brentwood
BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR
DAVE ROWE, Brentwood
Why chosen: Brentwood became the first boys team from Middle Tennessee to win the Class AAA championship, winning by 76 points over Bearden. The Bruins finished 17th at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore., and were ranked 20th in the final ESPN Powerade Fab 50 national rankings. Brentwood won the Jesse Owens Invitational in Oakville, Ala., setting a meet record for best five-runner average (15:54). The Bruins also won the Williamson County championship, the Region 6-AAA title and the Chickasaw Invitational in addition to taking second at the Trinity Invitational in Louisville, Ky.
Quote: “It was a great combination of kids who really, really were disciplined and talented. Talent always trumps a lot of other things, but they were a disciplined bunch of kids. We had a bunch of sophomores and their confidence really grew and blossomed throughout the year. We were really strong in our top five.”
ALL-MIDSTATE SCHEDULE
The Tennessean is publishing its All-Midstate teams for fall sports this week.
Wednesday: Volleyball
Thursday: Golf
Friday: Girls soccer
Today: Cross country
Sunday: Football
Monday: Dream Team football
Teams are selected by The Tennessean high school writers who use personal observations, coaches’ opinions and performances at the state meet in their selection process.
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