BLITZ Tennis Player of the Year: Kevin Wonders

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The BLITZ Boys Tennis Player of the Year is Kevin Wonders of Habersham Central. It’s certainly a rarity, as very few freshmen have ever won BLITZ Player of the Year in any sport.

POY Framed Print (11×17) – Kevin Wonders

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POY Framed Print (11×17) – Kevin Wonders

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

15-4 Overall Record
79% Win Percentage
Team: State Playoff berth & Region Runner-Up

Kevin Wonders, or the ‘Wonder Boy’ as some have called him, was stellar in 2022. The freshman played at #3 singles for the Raiders, and amassed a record of 15-4 (winning 79% of his matches). Did we mention he’s only a freshman?!? AND he played in one of the highest classifications in the state in Class 6A, going up against the likes of teams like Buford. The Raiders used Wonders’ solid play to earn a region runner-up finish and state playoff berth.

VOTING RESULTS

Kevin Wonders – 58.5 pts (8 1st-place votes)
Jonathan Orozco – 57 pts (6)
Aaron Eason – 41.5 pts (3)
Robbie Fountain – 22.5 pts
Zach Friday – 14.5 pts
Vinny Ricci – 10 pts

Voting included our 17-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; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

This was as thin a margin as we’ve seen in awhile. Wonders took eight 1st-place votes to win the award, though his weighted average was just slightly above Commerce’s Jonathan Orozco, who nabbed six 1st-place votes. Aaron Eason of Jefferson took a few as well. This one literally came down to the final vote that was cast.

HISTORY OF TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2022 – Kevin Wonders – Habersham Central FR #3 Singles
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

Wonders becomes the very first freshman to ever win Tennis POY honors, and simultaneously the first Habersham Central player to do it. He’s only the second #3 singles player to grab it, and the first since 2013.