Elite Athletes of the Week
Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE WEEK. Each week, all five local schools will name an Elite Athlete of the Week and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville.
Recipients for the week ending October 1, 2016:
Sarah Baynard -- Woodland High School Landry McCollum -- Excel Christian Academy Paris Poston -- Cartersville High School Chloe Powell -- Adairsville High School
Blaire Waters -- Cass High School
Sarah Baynard is the Elite Athlete of the Week for Woodland High School.
The Lady Cats’ sophomore pitcher is the daughter of Jeff and Debby Baynard.
Baynard was 4-2 over Woodland’s six Region 7-AAAAA playoff games and helped lead her team to a third place finish. Woodland defeated Paulding County in a three game series and Kell in the top four seeding playoffs, but fell twice to Villa Rica.
Her top performance in the region playoffs came in a crucial Game 3 of the best-of-three play-in series with Paulding County. Baynard tossed a seven inning shutout, scattering five hits and two walks in a 4-0 win.
Landry McCollum is the Elite Athlete of the Week representing Excel Christian Academy. The daughter of Brian and Suzanne McCollum, Landry is a sophomore outfielder for the Lady Eagles’ softball team and has attended Excel since kindergarten.
In her first year of playing varsity softball, McCollum has developed into an outstanding player. She uses her speed to beat out base hits and is one of the region leaders in stolen bases. She currently carries a a batting average over .400.
Coach Adcock nominated Landry because she has continued to improve throughout the season and for the positive attitude that she bring to the field every day.
McCollum is a multi-sport athlete. She plays guard on the basketball team and runs middle distant on the track team.
She is an excellent student that has been an honor roll student throughout her high school career. She has also received several awards recognizing her outstanding performances in the classroom. Her teachers praise her for her work ethic and for consistently performing at a high level in the classroom.
Landry attends the Church at Liberty Square where she is an active participant in the youth ministries. She enjoys giving back to the community as a participant in Splash Bartow for the last three years.
McCollum’s future plans include attending college to major in English.
The Cartersville High School Elite Athlete of the Week is Paris Poston.
The Lady Canes’ starting right fielder and three-hole hitter is a junior and the daughter of Pete and Melanie Poston.
Poston was 6-for-14 at the plate last week for a .429 batting average and a .643 slugging percentage in playoff games last week. She scored four runs with four singles, a double, a triple, and two RBIs.
Chloe Powell is the Elite Athlete of the Week for Adairsville High School.
A senior setter and right side hitter for the Lady Tigers’ volleyball team, she is also a member of the Adairsville basketball team.
She is the daughter of Doug and Amy Powell.
Powell’s coaches identify Powell as a true leader for the volleyball team. She encourages the younger players, helps correct their form, and assists her teammates’ positioning on the floor. She has been the most consistent player on the floor this season and reliable for her teammates and coaches.
Blaire Waters is the Elite Athlete of the Week representing Cass High School.
Only a sophomore, Waters has made great strides as a middle hitter on the Lady Colonels’ volleyball team. Developing as a leader on and off the court, she has shown herself to be very adaptable to instruction and has improved dramatically throughout the season.
The daughter of West and Stephanie Waters, Blaire is a friend to her teammates and according to her coaching staff is a “joy to coach.”
Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments.
