May 2024 - GMSD is excited to announce the nominations for May’s Athlete of the Month! Athlete of the Month is presented by Alisha Dumas with State Farm. These nominations are based on athletic work ethic, attitude, and sportsmanship, but these student athletes are just that - students first, athletes second. They must have good academic standing, maintain a good attendance record, and have a positive outlook towards their education and their community. Receiving a nomination is an honor in itself!
Each month the community will get to vote on which athlete they would like to see become the GMSD Athlete of the Month. There is a High School category and a Middle School category. Voting for these categories will be kept separate, so each month there will be an Athlete of the Month from the High School and the Middle School. The winners will be announced towards the end of each month.
Here are the May High School nominees:
Julia Blanche - Senior, Tennis
Julia Blanche has made it to the state finals for tennis, but she is also an avid pickleball player and a fan of flag football. As a teammate, she is always encouraging others to do their best, and she goes above and beyond to be a good team leader, even making team apparel. Julia is self-motivated and very social. She is extremely organized, balancing a busy schedule including tennis and her volunteer work. She has a kind heart and an uplifting spirit.
Jack Boccher - Junior, Soccer
Jack Boccher has seen many victories as an athlete including 2x State Championship with his club soccer team and the Southern Coast Cup Champions with Houston this season. As a goalie he has only allowed 0.42 goals per game this season. He is an excellent communicator with his teammates, giving them instruction and encouragement from the goal. Off the field, he works to connect with his teammates as a friend and spends time to create bonds that contribute to a strong team spirit. He is also actively involved in the Beta Club and Community Service Club, and he is a GMSD Ambassador.
Ben Farabee - Junior, Soccer
Ben Farabee has been playing soccer since he was 3 years old. Competitively, he played for the Germantown Legends for 10 years, and he was a team captain for many of those seasons. He has also played on the TN State Olympic Development Program team. For the last two years he has played with the Lobos Rush, winning the Tennessee State Championship in both 2022 and 2023. Ben began with Houston in his freshman year. As a very competitive athlete, Ben pushes his teammates to be their best. He is a leader on the field and provides guidance for other players. He is known as a selfless teammate and a kind classmate. His competitive nature also transitions to the classroom, where he maintains a 4.0.
Tripp Ledford - Senior, Baseball
Tripp Ledford has been playing as a Houston Mustang since his sophomore year, and he has a dedicated focus on pitching. He has worked on mechanics and positions to achieve his best game, and that hard work has led to pitching a no hitter. More than just his stats, Tripp works to be a positive influence on his team. He is motivated by his teammates and coaches both on and off the field, knowing that academic success goes hand in hand with athletic success. Tripp is thankful for the Ponies, calling his teammates his “brothers for life.”
Tucker Stallins - Senior, Baseball
Tucker Stallins is in his 4th and final season with the Ponies, and during his time at Houston he has been a part of 125 victories on the diamond, including the 2022 State Runner-Up team. He has also received several “Player of the Game” awards through his baseball career. Tucker has worked to become a leader on the field, and he prides himself on leading by example and encouraging his teammates.
Johnny Walpole - Freshman, Tennis
Johnny Walpole has had incredible success during his freshman year, being named the #1 player on the school team. Johnny is very close with his teammates, and he offers support, advice, and encouragement whenever he can. As a freshman, he also takes time to learn from the upperclassmen who help lead the team. He is a very strategic player, and his goal is to be the best tennis player in the state.
Here are the May Middle School nominees:
Caplan Crews - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Baseball
Caplan Crews is a multi-sport athlete, but for baseball, he not only plays at HMS, but also for the Germantown Rays. He has received multiple tournament MVPs from Perfect Game and was an alternate for the Tennessee All State 14U baseball team. He was also selected for the 7 vs. 7 National Playmakers 14U Elite team of Nashville. He also boasts a 100% stolen base rate. Caplan loves to compete and is always doing what’s best for the team. He is a loud voice of encouragement on the field celebrating his teammates.
Corbin Downen - 7th Grade, Houston Middle School, Baseball
Corbin “Ace” Downen has been playing baseball since age 4, and he plays at shortstop and pitcher. He leads the team with a .452 batting average. He also plays travel baseball for the EBC-Fly, a nationally ranked team, coming in at 32 in the nation. He has been awarded 2 MVP pitcher awards and leads the team in pitching with 55 strike outs and 1.15 ERA this season. Corbin is also a multisport athlete, but no matter what season he is in, he is dedicated to being a leader both on and off the field.
Ashton Echols - 8th Grade, Riverdale, Track & Field
Ashton Echols has the huge accomplishments of hitting under 1 minute for the 400m and getting under 18 seconds for the boys’ 110m hurdles this season. He is consistently being a voice of advice and encouragement to his teammates, and he is thankful for those that are his encouragers saying, “I love the feeling of knowing that there are people who believe in me and want me to succeed.” His dedication and positive attitude have helped him to achieve a new personal best on every 400m dash this season, dropping 9 seconds off of his time.
Micah Lartey - 7th Grade, Riverdale, Soccer
Micah Lartey is a multisport athlete who has competed and received recognitions at competitions all over the world. He played soccer professionally with the Cutter Soccer Club in 2021. In all of his athletic endeavors, Micah is always having fun. He is very much a peacemaker, and he is always looking out for his teammates. He is an outgoing athlete, and he truly loves getting to be with his friends and compete.
Elena Truszkowski - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Track & Field
Elena Truszkowski has competed in the TMSAA State Championship all 3 years of middle school, and in year 1, she also competed in the TMSAA Sectional meet in the 1600m. Elena is a natural leader, and she encourages her teammates by setting a good example on and off the field. She is the first to lend a helping hand, and she always wants to be her very best. She is not only a hard worker, but prides herself on being a good friend.
Aidan Walker - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Soccer
Aidan Walker began playing soccer at the age of 3 years old, and since the 3rd grade he has played with the 2010 Legends Black/ECNL-R team. As a member of the Houston Middle Soccer team, he is a very driven and disciplined athlete. As a natural leader, he is known to drive success and encourage others every chance he can. His dedication and hard work also translate to the classroom, where he works hard in his academics. Aiden is dedicated, hardworking, and self-disciplined, and he aims to be a role model both on and off the field.
Congratulations to these athletes! With the school year coming to a close, this voting has a quick turn around, so be sure to click here to cast your vote! Voting is set to close Friday, May 17 at noon.