Several locals put their athleticism on full display during the season – in regular season meets, region/area, and again at state. Here are the BLITZ Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year nominees. Coaches were permitted to nominate up to a max of 3 athletes per team (no relay groups). In total, we have 16 Nominees for Athlete of the Year.

Next, BLITZ will carefully whittle down the nominee list into a finalist group to be up for Athlete of the Year. The public will then get to vote for a last finalist from a handful of select nominees who didn’t make our finalist cut.

Sammy Brown – Jefferson JR

Long Jump: 5A State 4th & Region Champion (23-3 PR); 100: State 6th & Region RU (10.76 PR); 200: State 11th & Region RU (22.09 PR)

*Nominated by BLITZ as top Jefferson performer at state and region combined; no response from Jefferson*

Brad Chosewood – Habersham Central JR

Shot Put: 6A State Runner-Up & Region Champion (55-3 PR); Discus: State 3rd & Region Champion (162-8)

Pepper Davis – Banks County JR

3200: 2A State 3rd & Region Runner-Up (9:53.26 PR)

*Nominated by BLITZ as top Banks performer at state and region combined; no response from Banks*

Willie Goodwyn – Rabun County JR

High Jump: 1A DI State Runner-Up & Region Runner-Up (6-4 PR); Long Jump: State 3rd, Region Champion (21-09.05 PR); 100: State 13th & Region Runner-Up (11.11 PR); 4×400: State 5th & Region Champion (3:27.30 PR)

Braden Griffin – Stephens County SR

400: 3A State Runner-Up & Region Champion (49.01 PR/School Record); 200: State 4th & Region Runner-Up (22.14); 4×200: Region 3rd (1:33.98)

Jacari Huff – Commerce SO

200: 1A DI State Runner-Up & Region Champion (21.97 PR); 100: State 5th & Region Champion (10.95 PR)

*Nominated by BLITZ as top Banks performer at state and region combined; no response from Banks*

Sean Hughes – White County SR

Long Jump: 3A State Champion & Region Champion; Triple Jump: State 6th & Region Champion; 4×100: State 6th & Region Champion

Sam Ketch – Tallulah Falls JR

Discus: 1A DI State 3rd (151-6 PR/School Record) & Region Champion; Shot Put: 43′ 10.5 PR

Cooper Kluth – Union County SR

110 MH: 2A State Qualifier & Region Runner-Up (16.26 PR); 300 MH: Region 3rd (43.37)
*Nominated by BLITZ as top Union County performer at state and region combined; No response from Union*

Aaron Maxwell – Stephens County SR

Shot Put: 3A State 7th & Region Champion (48-5.5 PR)

Aaric Muilenburg – Dawson County SO

400: 3A State 12th & Region 3rd (52.07 PR)

*Nominated by BLITZ as top Dawson performer at state and region combined; no response from Dawson*

Paul Picciotti – Rabun County JR

300 MH: 1A DI State 10th & Region Runner-Up (41.21 PR); 4×400: State 5th & Region Champion (3:27.30 PR)

Corey Richie – Stephens County SR

Triple Jump: 3A State 8th & Region Champion (43-8 PR); Long Jump: Region 4th (20-7.5 PR); 4×200: Region 3rd (1:33.98 PR)

Issac Simmons – Habersham Central SR

High Jump: 6A State 10th & Region Runner-Up (6-4 PR)

Hayden Smith – Rabun County JR

400: 1A DI State 14th & Region 3rd (51.78 PR); 4×400: State 5th & Region Champion (3:27.30 PR)

Wyatt Windham – Lumpkin County SO

1600: 3A State 3rd & Region Runner-Up (4:24.13 PR); 3200: State 4th & Region Runner-Up (9:45.64 PR); 800: State 4th & Region Champion (1:57.87 PR)
*Nominated by BLITZ as top Lumpkin performer at state and region combined; no response from Lumpkin*