Student-Athlete of the Year
North Oaks Sports Medicine is proud to partner with high schools in Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes
to honor student-athletes who go above and beyond on and off the field.
We offer the
Student-Athlete of the Season program to encourage students to excel in athletics and academics.
To qualify, student-athletes must:
- excel in athletic competition during the past season
- have a 3.0 GPA or higher
- be active in school/community organizations
- show respect for coaches, teammates, officials, teachers and other students
Below are all of the 2018–2019 Student-Athletes of the Season. Your
help is needed to select the Student-Athletes of the Year! Cast your ballot below.
Tangipahoa Parish
Male Nominees
JOHN ROSS DONNES, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School senior honor student John
Ross Donnes maintains a 4.0 GPA. As a runner on the Falcons cross-country
team all four years of high school, he has gained a reputation as a top
finisher. Some recent achievements include: ninety-seventh of 402 runners
at the Brooks Memphis Twilight in Memphis, Tenn.; first of 32 runners
at the BSN Sports Invitational in Hammond; second of 47 runners at the
Forster Commagere Classic in Bay St. Louis, Miss.; thirty-fourth of 360
runners at the Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola, Fla.; twenty-second of
283 runners at the St. Joseph Invitational in Baton Rouge; and second
of 202 runners at the MC Watson Ford Invitational in Clinton, MS. “John
Ross is one of our senior team captains and shows great respect for his
peers, coaches and competitors. He is very well-liked by his teammates
and a great mentor for our younger athletes,” notes Falcons Head
Cross Country/Track and Field Coach Miguel Becerra. “He also is
a great asset to our coaching staff. We host many cross country meets
on our campus, John Ross can be counted upon to lead the team in helping
out at these meets, including set-up and clean-up.” A school ambassador
and Light Team member, Donnes also belongs to the National Honor Society
and Student Council.
JUSTICE KELLY, HAMMOND HIGH
Hammond High Magnet School sophomore honor student Justice Kelly maintains
a 4.0 GPA. As a guard on the Tornadoes’ junior varsity basketball
team, Kelly averages 15 points per game. Off the court, Kelly participates
in the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy and belongs to Beta Club and Key
Club. He also attends church frequently and visits nursing home residents
with his church youth group, according to Jimmie Butler, Hammond High
Magnet School’s head boys basketball coach.
AUSTIN GRANIER, PONCHATOULA HIGH
Ponchatoula senior Austin Granier graduated with a 3.98 GPA and recently
threw a complete game no-hitter for the Green Wave against Chalmette on
February 21. As president of Ponchatoula High’s Key Club, Granier
actively sought to share his talents and experiences with others in the
community. “Austin really tries to be a leader in the community,”
says Ponchatoula High School’s Assistant Baseball Coach Brett Vampran.
“He serves as a coach in local recreational sports leagues and as
an after-school tutor at the public library.”
Female Nominees
MIA KUGLER, PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL
Mia Kugler is a junior honor student with a 3.9 GPA at Ponchatoula High
School. She has played volleyball for the Lady Wave for three years. Excelling
as an outside hitter and defensive specialist, she earned a spot on the
Newman All-Tournament Team. Recent stats include: nine aces, 11 kills
and 20 digs versus Salmen High School; 10 kills and 12 digs versus Lakeshore
High School; 10 kills and 22 digs versus Hammond High Magnet School; and
11 kills and 20 digs against Northshore High School. “Mia is an
exceptional young lady and leader both on and off the court,” affirms
Ponchatoula High School Head Volleyball Coach Lauren Long. “Through
her words and actions, she encourages her teammates and has helped organize
community service activities for our team to benefit breast cancer awareness,
multiple sclerosis and Special Olympics Louisiana. She is an asset to
our team, school and community.” Kugler is actively involved in
the following organizations: Family, Career and Community Leaders of America;
Key Club; National Honor Society; and Holy Ghost Church Peer Ministry.
She is a past member of the CARE Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
IALIYAH PRESTON, INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Ialiyah Preston is a junior honor student with a 3.9 GPA at Independence
High School. She has played basketball for the Lady Tigers for three years.
Preston has netted 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 15 steals and 4 blocks
this season as a guard. “Ialiyah exemplifies strong leadership and
character,” affirms Independence High School head girls basketball
coach Tara Cardaronella. “She works hard at everything she does.”
CHLOE STOKES, JEWEL SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL
Chloe Stokes is graduating as an honor student with a 4.0 GPA at Jewel
Sumner High School in Kentwood. She has played softball with the Cowgirls
throughout her high school career, ending this season with a .393 batting
average and throwing 82 strikeouts as pitcher. According to Cowgirls Head
Softball Coach Joanie Booty, Stokes is always prepared to take a “captain’s
role” as an example to others of sportsmanship and scholarship on
and off the field. In addition to softball, Stokes also is involved in
Students Helping Students, the Beta Club and the Spanish Club.
Livingston Parish
Male Nominees
WAYLON MABRY, SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Waylon Mabry excelled as a cornerback and outside linebacker for the Springfield
High School football team. This past season he had 40 tackles, five pass
breakups, two sacs, and three tackles for a loss. Waylon also excelled
off the football field as a member of the Beta Club, STEM Club, and the
Spanish Club where he served as vice president. He also had the honor
of attending American legion’s Louisiana Boys State leadership program
at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. While balancing a busy
schedule of athletics and academic clubs, Waylon put in hard work with
his school work earning a GPA of 4.3.
BRYCE JOHNSON, SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Bryce Johnson played forward for the Springfield High School basketball
team. He averaged 19.3 points per game, 11.6 rebounds per game, and 1.9
blocks per game. Bryce held the integrity of the game very high. “He
always leads by example,” notes Head Coach John Sii, “he is
always doing the right thing and encouraging others to do the same.”
BROCK BANKSTON, ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
“He is the first guy on the field and the last to leave every day,”
states Head Baseball Coach Gabriel Woods about third baseman Brock Bankston.
“He excels in the classroom and pushes his teammates to do well
also,” which is evident by his 4.0 GPA. Brock finished the season
with a 300 batting average. This past season he was first team all-district
and all-parish.
Female Nominees
MEGHAN LANDRY, ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
Albany High School cheerleader Meghan Landry devoted much of her time and
energy to the sport as she held the position of Senior Leader. Her extreme
passion for cheerleading led to her stellar attendance of never missing
a game and her desire to mentor the younger members to reach their best
potential. “Meghan is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone
that may need it,” states Head Coach Ashley Whiddon. “She
always puts her teammates and classmates first and she approaches every
situation with a positive attitude.” Her hard work and dedication
carried over to her academic life with a GPA of 3.7, a member of the Beta
Club and AP, president of FCA, and honor student. Landry also participated
in Southeastern Louisiana University’s Dual Enrollment Program to
simultaneously earn high school and college credit.
CAMRYN WOODS, ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
Camryn Woods is a senior honor student at Albany High School with a 4.0
GPA. As a guard for the Lady Hornets in her fourth year of play, she is
averaging 18.6 points, 3.1 steals and 6.8 rebounds per game. “Camryn
leads by her own example as a great student in the classroom and hard
worker on the court,” Albany High School head girls basketball coach
Stacy Darouse shares. Woods also belongs to the Beta Club and Fellowship
of Christian Athletes.
HALEIGH POURCIAU, WALKER HIGH SCHOOL
Sophomore Haleigh Porciau of Walker High School couples a 4.0 GPA with
a 389 batting average and 1.2 ERA on the softball field. “Haleigh
is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached,” states Wildcats
Softball Coach Hali Fletcher. “She leads by example in the classroom,
in the hallways and always on the field. She is a student-athlete that
balances both responsibilities proficiently.”
Voting has ended.