Gatorade Player of the Year Awards

The Gatorade Player of the Year awards are given annually to male and female high-school student-athletes in the United States. They are given for boys' baseball, boys' football, girls' softball, girls' volleyball, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, boys' cross country, girls' cross country, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, boys' track & field, and girls' track & field.

A "State Player of the Year" award is given to the best student-athlete in each of the twelve sports in the District of Columbia and each of the fifty states, where each sport is recognized as an interscholastic sport. Selection is based on three criteria: athletic achievement, academic excellence, and exemplary character (including sportsmanship, and participation in community and other activities). Twelve "National Player of the Year" awards are then given, to the best student-athlete in each of the twelve sports, chosen from the state winners in the respective sport.

Finally, one male Athlete of the Year and one female Athlete of the Year are selected from the twelve National Player of the Year recipients. The two winners are voted on by a national panel that includes approximately 400 sports journalists, coaches, and others. The two athletes of the year receive their awards at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards, in Los Angeles, California.

The Gatorade Company established these awards in 1985. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE, which is ESPN's division for high-school sports.

Past West Virginia winners for Cross Country include:

Gatorade West Virginia Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year (2008-2017):

2008 - RYAN BEABOUT - Wheeling Park High / Wheeling, WV

2009 - CODY PELLICCIONI - Morgantown High / Morgantown, WV

2010 - CODY PELLICCIONI - Morgantown High / Morgantown, WV

2011 - JACOB BURCHAM - Cabell Midland High / Ona, WV

2013 - JACOB BURCHAM - Cabell Midland High / Ona, WV

2012 - JACOB BURCHAM - Cabell Midland High / Ona, WV

2014 - MATTHEW BRAFFORD - George Washington High / Charleston, WV

2015 - SETH EDWARDS - University High / Morgantown, WV

2016 - SETH EDWARDS - University High / Morgantown, WV

2017 - PHILIP WHITE - University High / Morgantown, WV

Gatorade West Virginia Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year (2008-2017):

2008 - LETITIA PROPST - Elkins High / Elkins, WV

2009 - LETITIA PROPST - Elkins High / Elkins, WV

2010 - ALEX DENT - Hurricane High / Hurricane, WV

2011 - SARAH MCCAULEY - Philip Barbour High / Philippi, WV

2012 - MAGGIE DRAZBA - St Marys High / St. Marys, WV

2013 - MAGGIE DRAZBA - St Marys High / St. Marys, WV

2014 - AMELIA PALADINO - University High / Morgantown, WV

2015 - PEYTON PANGER - Capital High / Charleston, WV

2016 - JESSICA MELVIN - Philip Barbour High / Philippi, WV

2017 - TASHALA TURNER - University High / Morgantown, WV

State Winners:

For the official list of state winners (including D.C.) from 1985 to the present, see link: http://www.gatorade.com/poy/winner/state For each state's winners (in all 12 sports) in a particular year, click on (1) the down arrow in the first box, (2) the desired year, (3) then the down arrow in the second box, (4) the desired state (or D.C.), and finally (5) the Search icon.

To Nominate an Athlete for the 2017-2018 GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

To nominate a high school student-athlete you feel represents the best in ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND EXEMPLARY CHARACTER.

Link to Nominate: http://www.gatorade.com/poy/nominate

Check the site for Upcoming Deadlines. The Girls & Boys Cross Country Nomination is usually during the first week of January, while the announcement is near the end of January.

Submitted by Coach McMillion (07/14/17)

Sources www.gatorade.com & Wikipedia

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