High School Standouts
Honored
for Athleticism

 Special  Event!

Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athletes of the Year!

Hafele, Watts, Are KFB 2010

High School Athletes of the Year

Sacred Heart Academy’s Jackie  Hafele and McCreary Central’s Aaron Watts were honored as the 2010 Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athletes of the Year during the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame 2010  Induction Banquet in Louisville on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Louisville.                                                             

The awards were voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters from across the state and are sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Companies.

“Kentucky Farm Bureau is proud to sponsor and support the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, which recognizes superior athletic achievement while lending support to Kosair Charities,” says Kentucky Farm Bureau second vice president Eddie Melton. “We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide well-deserved recognition to Jackie and Aaron for their outstanding athletic achievements, and we are sure they both will build on the early promise they have shown in the high school careers.”

 

Jackie Hafele, Sacred Heart Academy

        Hafele is a sensational two-sport standout at Sacred Heart Academy. She was named Miss Soccer in the state of Kentucky as a senior and was one of the top basketball players in the Seventh Region. She has signed to play soccer at Butler University. In soccer, Hafele helped Sacred Heart to three consecutive state titles. She had 11 goals and nine assists during her senior season when the Valkyries went 19-1-2. She was the only Kentuckian named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was also named as the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. In basketball, she played some on the varsity as a freshman and was a standout as a sophomore and junior. She played in only one game as a senior because she suffered a season-ending knee injury and underwent surgery in December 2009. She played in 55 career games and had 342 points, 220 rebounds and 102 steals. She was considered among the top seniors in the state prior to her knee injury.

 

 

Aaron Watts, McCreary Central

        The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Watts is one of the state’s top three-sport athletes in recent years. He was named first-team All-State by The Courier-Journal in football, is likely a first-team All-State basketball player and is also one of the state’s top baseball players. He is being recruited in all three sports. In basketball, Watts led his team in scoring and steals as a junior and a senior. He averaged more than 20 points a game as a senior. In the prestigious Lexington Catholic Tournament in December 2009, Watts averaged 23 points a game. In football, Watts was a first-team All-State player as a defensive back and also played several positions on offense. Watts had 1,101 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, 530 yards passing and four TDs, three interceptions and one fumble recovery. He returned 91 yards for a TD  and had 71 tackles as a senior. During his career, Watts finished with 3,494 yards rushing and 38 TDs, 1,450 yards passing and 14 TDs, 15 two-point conversions, 616 yards receiving and 5 TDs, three TD kickoff returns, 256 tackles and nine interceptions. In baseball, Watts is considered one of the top outfielders in the state. His mother, Trina, played basketball at Western Kentucky University.

 

Here is Kentucky Farm Bureau's announcement following  this year's event:

KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU

 

9201 Bunsen Parkway • P.O. Box 20700 • Louisville, KY 40250-0700

Phone 502.495.5000 • Fax 502.495.5114 • kyfb.com

For Immediate Release Contact: Dan Smaldone

Director of Public Relations

502.495.5191 – Office

502.303.7160 – Cell

Daniel.Smaldone@kyfb.com

 

Kentucky Farm Bureau Honors
 
High School Athletes of the Year
 

Louisville, KY (April 29, 2010) – Jackie Hafele of Sacred Heart Academy and Aaron Watts of McCreary Central High School were recognized as the Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athletes of the Year during yesterday's Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame 2010 Induction ceremony.

Sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, the high school honors came following a vote by sportswriters and sportscasters throughout the state.

Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney said the sponsorship underscores the organization’s commitment to young people. “We’re pleased to provide the recognition for outstanding high school athletes,” Haney said. “Athletics are an important element of the high school experience and in many instances a key part of the culture in rural communities. Farm Bureau has a presence throughout the state and so it is very fitting that we support this initiative.”

Hafele is a two-sport standout at Sacred Heart Academy. A senior, she was named Kentucky’s “Miss Soccer” and a National Soccer Coaches Association All-American after leading Sacred Heart to its third consecutive state championship. She had 11 goals and nine assists in leading the Valkyries to a 19-1-2 record. She has signed to play soccer at Butler University.

Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney presents the 2010 Kentucky Farm Bureau Female High School Athlete of the Year award to Sacred Heart Academy’s Jackie Hafele.

Hafele also was a basketball star for the 7th Region power but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening game of this season. She had been rated as one of the top senior players for the 2009-10 season.

Watts is a three-sport standout. In football, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound senior was named first team All-State as a defensive back. On offense he ran for 1,101 yards and had 530 yards passing. He had 16 touchdowns rushing and passed for four TDs.

He was named to The Courier-Journal’s All-State basketball team after averaging 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He led the 12th Region school in scoring the past two seasons and was named the region’s top player this year.

Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney presents the 2010 Kentucky Farm Bureau Male High School Athlete of the Year award to McCreary Central High School’s Aaron Watts.

 

Watts also is an outstanding baseball player. He plays center field and pitches for the Raiders. He wants to play college basketball but hasn’t selected a school.

The two high school stars were honored along with eight individuals inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. Those inductees were football greats Jeff Brohm (Trinity High School, University of Louisville and professionally); Wilbur Hackett (Manual High School, the University of Kentucky and a long-time Southeastern Conference official) and Dan Neal (Atherton High School, UK and professionally); basketball standouts Mike Pratt (UK and professionally), Lillie Mason Stockton (Olmstead High School and Western Kentucky University) and Donna Wise (Campbellsville University coach); golfer Buddy Demling of Louisville; and NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip of Owensboro.

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Recalling last year's event:

 

Mathies, Whiting, Named 2009

KFB High School Athletes of the Year

 Louisville, KY. (April 30, 2009) Iroquois High School’s Adia Mathies and Trinity High School’s Jordan Whiting were honored as the 2009 Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athletes of the Year during yesterday’s Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame 2009 Induction Banquet in Louisville.                                                             

The awards were voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters from across the state and were sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Cos.

“For the past 20 years, Kentucky Farm Bureau has been proud to support and be affiliated with the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame which recognizes superior athletic achievement, all the while lending support to Kosair Charities,” said Kentucky Farm Bureau second vice president Eddie Melton. “We congratulate both Adia and Jordan on their outstanding accomplishments and recognize the bright future they have ahead of them as they move forward in their careers.”

The Kentucky Farm Bureau Female High School Athlete of the Year, Mathies, has been one of the top girls’ basketball players in the state for a number of years, playing at the varsity level since she was in sixth grade. She has signed to play for the University of Kentucky. The Louisville senior averaged close to 17 points and 12 rebounds this season, leading the Lady Raiders to a 33-1 record and the state title, while holding a 3.5 grade point average. Mathies, a Full Court Press High School All-American, was ranked by ESPN as the 13th best shooting guard in the country and 65th overall player. She was recently named Kentucky’s Miss Basketball.

 

 

The Kentucky Farm Bureau Male High School Athlete of the Year, Whiting, was a linebacker on the Trinity football team. The Louisville senior became the first person in school history to be part of four state championship football teams and has signed to play for Ohio State University. Whiting was named first-team All-State as a junior and senior, named to three first-team All-American teams as a senior, was a finalist for Mr. Football, and was a nominee to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

He was a finalist in the National Alliance of African American Athletes’ Watkins Award, which promotes academic excellence among African American athletes. Whiting also helped Trinity win state titles in wrestling, power lifting, and track and field while holding a 3.8 grade-point average.

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Read the March 2009 announcement of the

Kentucky Farm Bureau
2009 High School Athletes of the Year

Click here.


 

From our 2008 event:

Lexington, Frankfort Students Named

2008 High School Athletes of the Year

Tennis Champ, Three-Sport Star Were Honored April 30, 2008

 

Lexington Henry Clay High School’s Emily Carbone and Frankfort High School’s E.J. Fields have been named the Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athletes of the Year. They were honored alongside the 2008 Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame inductees at our April 30, 2008, ceremony at the Galt House in Louisville.

 “We congratulate these athletes on all of their outstanding accomplishments both on the field and off,” says Steve McCormick, director of administrative services for Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Cos.  “These students have bright futures in college and wherever their sports take them.”

 

Emily Carbone

The Kentucky Farm Bureau Female High School Athlete of the Year, Emily Carbone, is a senior at Henry Clay High School in Lexington. Previously a student at Lexington Christian Academy, Carbone helped her school win the state team title during both her freshman and sophomore years, and she won the state singles title as a junior last year. While she will not compete at this year’s state championships because of a school transfer, Carbone remains the No. 1 ranked player in Kentucky and No. 27 in the country, as rated by TennisRecruiting.net. She has signed with the University of Arkansas.

 

E. J. Fields

The Kentucky Farm Bureau Male High School Athlete of the year, E.J. Fields, is a senior at Frankfort High School and a three-sport star in basketball, track and football.  On the gridiron, he was a first-team All-State defensive back/quarterback and led his team to the state semifinals as a senior.  In track, he captured two state titles in the 400 meter, in both his sophomore and junior years. Fields recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Kentucky.

 Carbone and Fields were honored at the annual Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony, on Wednesday evening (April 30) of Derby week at the Galt House in Louisville.

 All proceeds benefit Kosair Charities, which has provided more than $124 million since the 1980s to support the medical care of thousands of children from across Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

 


Looking back:

Our 2007 High School Honorees

 

Scott County High School senior Rebecca Gray and Male High senior Douglas Beaumont have won numerous awards during their high school careers.

Gray has been one of the state’s top girls’ basketball players her entire career with the Lady Cardinals, while Beaumont was a football standout as well as basketball star for the Bulldogs.

 

Now, the two share a new distinction as the duo have been named Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athletes of the Year. They are the first to be selected for this special recognition, which was new this year. They were each honored during the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday evening, May 2, at The Galt House Hotel & Suites in Louisville.

 

To read Jody Demling's announcement of the inaugural event in The Courier-Journal, click here: Beaumont, Gray win state awards


 

Rebecca Gray
The 5-foot-ll Gray finished her illustrious career ranked as the 25th all-time scorer in state history with 2,907 career points. She also had 706 rebounds, 493 assists and 380 steals for the Lady Cardinals.

Heading into her senior season, Gray — nicknamed “Bee” — was ranked nationally as the No. 47 player by Scout.com. She is a two-time, first-team All-State selection and was named as the 11th Region Player of the Year this season.

“Since Rebecca Gray walked into our gym in the sixth grade, she has made an impact on our program,” coach Steve Helton says. “She has definitely left her mark on Scott County basketball. Rebecca is a tremendous young lady with great work ethic and a great attitude. She has great things ahead of her.”

Gray helped Scott County to one regional title, a pair of Louisville Invitational Tournament titles and a top-10 ranking each of the past five seasons.

As a senior, Gray averaged 25.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 4.1 steals and shot 88.9 percent from the free-throw line. She has signed to play basketball at the University of North Carolina.

 

Douglas Beaumont
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Beaumont left a mark on the prestigious Male gridiron program and was named Kentucky’s Mr. Football.

“He’s is the most productive player we have had because he did so much,” Male coach Bob Redman says. “He was on the field all the time. He was the best linebacker, the best running back, the best receiver, the best return guy and the best hitter. Guys like that are rare. Honestly, I never saw him rest.”

Beaumont also won the Gatorade Player of the Year award as the state’s top player, along with the Paul Hornung and Roy Kidd awards.

As a senior, Beaumont carried 137 times for 1,169 yards (8.5 yards a carry) and 24 touchdowns, while catching 39 passes for 550 yards and eight IDs.

During his four-year career, Beaumont finished with 365 carries for 3,153 yards (8.6 yards a carry) and 69 TDs, while catching 189 passes for 2,801 yards (14.8 yards a carry) and 22 TDs. He finished with 5,954 career yards, 574 total points and 11 interceptions during his stellar career.

The career point total is 12th all-time in state history and Beaumont trails only former Moore star Monquantae Gibson (696 points) as the all-time leader in Jefferson County. He’s tied for 11th in the state record books for career TDs with 91 and 10th all ­time in career receiving yards.

In basketball, Beaumont is a likely first-team All-State selection this season. He’s one of the top players from Louisville and averaged 18 points a game.

Beaumont has signed to play football at the University of Louisville.

 

The two high school stars were honored during the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday evening, May 2, at The Galt House Hotel & Suites on Louisville’s riverfront.

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