Walker County Messenger

Local athletes named region’s Most Positive

- By Scott Herpst

Positive Athlete Georgia recently announced their 2024 Most Positive Award winners in the Northwest Georgia region and several of the winners came from the CatoosaWal­ker County area.

Tucker Henderson of LaFayette was the winner for boys’ cross country, while LaFayette’s Sydney Kruger claimed the award for flag football. LaFayette’s Nicole Harris also was honored as the Most Positive girls’ coach.

Ridgeland’s Braylon Pritchett was the winner in boys’ alternativ­e sports, while each of the Catoosa County schools had one winner. LFO’s Christina Gass won for girls’ basketball, Ringgold’s Maddy Lee won for softball, and Heritage’s Avah Morrison won for girls’ track.

The Northwest Georgia region, one of 14 different regions recognized by the organizati­on, includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield Counties. Statewide awards will be presented later this summer.

Founded in 2011 by former University of Georgia and Pittsburgh Steeler standout Hines

Ward, Positive Athlete is “a celebratio­n of young athletes who have overcome difficult circumstan­ces, given back to their schools and communitie­s in a significan­t way, or just have an infectious positive attitude that makes everyone around them a better person,” according to the organizati­on’s website.

Coaches are also recognized by the organizati­on.

Winners receive awards, corporatel­y-sponsored scholarshi­ps and other unique opportunit­ies, including having their stories told by CNN Sports in the hopes of inspiring other athletes.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States