From the football field, to the basketball court, and then to the tennis courts, Kenny Colwell is a 3-sport standout. He excelled in all of them, and earns BLITZ Tennis Player of the Year after a solid senior season for the Indians.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 13-3 W-L Record
• 81% Win Percentage

Colwell was 13-3 overall at #2 singles for Stephens County, which made another state tournament run in large part due to his leadership. That translates into winning 81% of his matches.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Kenny Colwell – 49 pts (7 1st-place votes)
2. Ronnie Jones – 41.5 (4)
3. Jack Lowry/Chris Welch – 33 (2)
4. Chase Hatcher/Sean Presley – 13.5
5. Dawson Maney – 12.5

Colwell took the lion’s share of 1st-place votes, which definitely helped give him the edge over Ronnie Jones.

Voting included our 13-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts

HISTORY OF TENNIS POY

• 2021 – Kenny Colwell – Stephens County SR #2 Singles
• 2020 – Marcus Berninger – Jefferson SR #1 Singles
• 2019 – Marcus Berninger – Jefferson JR #1 Singles
• 2018 – Gabe Martin – Banks County SR #1 Singles
• 2017 – Trey Wilcox – Tallulah Falls SR #1 Singles
• 2016 – Trey Wilcox – Rabun County JR #1 Singles
• 2015 – Trey Wilcox – Rabun County SO #1 Singles
• 2014 – Justin Yang/Gatlin Boswell – Banks County SR #2 Doubles
• 2013 – Bobby Nguyen – Banks County JR #3 Singles
• 2012 – Jake Schaefer – Banks County JR #1 Singles
• 2011 – Will Jarrard – Lumpkin County SR #1 Singles
• 2010 – Thomas Flowers – White County SR #1 Singles

Colwell is the first Stephens County player to take the honors, and the first #2 singles player to ever earn it. Fun fact, the first-ever winner Thomas Flowers is now at Stephens County and has coached up Colwell especially in football.

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?

The top 2 finalists in voting were Colwell and Ronnie Jones. Both are graduating, as are Lumpkin’s Welch, Banks’ Hatcher, and Rabun’s Maney. That leaves half of each of the doubles finalists coming back, and others around the area who can take it in a wide-open field. Look out for another Banks player to emerge possibly.