January Elite Athletes of the Month
Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH.
Each month, all five local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville.
Recipients for January 2017: Rylie Boston -- Excel Christian Academy Daunta Bryan -- Cartersville HS
Houston Jones -- Cass HS
Rylee Moss -- Adairsville HS
Lexie Robinson -- Woodland HS
Rylie Boston is the Excel Christian Academy Elite Athlete of the Month for January.
Boston is the daughter of Shane and Paige Boston and is a sophomore at Excel where she has attended for the past six years. Rylie is a multisport athlete at Excel competing as a member of the basketball team and as an outfielder for the softball team.
She was named All County and All Region as a freshman and has continued to improve as a basketball player. Currently she is averaging 12 points and 12 rebounds per game for the 10-7 Lady Eagles basketball team.
Coach Gary Boulier and Coach Eric Harris nominated Boston because of her strong work ethic, her great attitude and her unselfish play on the basketball court. “Rylie just gives it her all no matter what the circumstances,” said Harris. “You can always count on her to give you her best at all times.”
Her favorite subject is History because she finds it intriguing and interesting.
Her hobbies include hanging out with friends, attending church and spending time with her family.
Moss is a member of the Church at Liberty Square, where she is an active participant in the youth activities.
She has given back to the community as an active participant in Splash Bartow.
Her future plans includes attending college with the hopes to continue her basketball career.
The January Elite Athlete of the Month for Cartersville High School is senior Daunta Bryan.
Bryan, son of Tamika Williams and Damon Bryan, helped the Canes win the Dalton Holiday Classic Championship and he has also been an instrumental part of the team’s current No. 6 ranking in Class AAAA.
He was voted onto the homecoming court this past Fall and was selected as a team captain by his teammates on the basketball team.
“Daunta is a class act on and off the floor,” said Cartersville coach Mike Tobin.
The January Elite Athlete of the Month for Cass High School is Houston Jones.
Jones is a senior, 170-pound wrestler for the Colonels and the son of Tina LaFollete-Jones.
He was an Area 7AAAAA runner-up in his weight class and a state qualifying wrestler last season. He has continued that success this year by compiling a record of 36 wins and only 8 losses. Jones recently went undefeated for his team at the GHSA Class AAAAA State Duals Championship and helped lead Cass to a fourth place finish in the state. He has again qualified for the Traditional State Sectionals in his weight class and will be competing this weekend for another spot in the Class AAAAA State Championships.
“Houston is a great leader for the team,” said Cass coach D.L. Koontz. “He is a bulldog in the wrestling room during workouts and on the mat in competition.”
Rylee Moss is the Adairsville High School Elite Athlete of the Month for January.
The sophomore swimmer is the daughter of Chris and Maurni Moss.
Moss has state qualifying times this season in the 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500-freestyle. She has also qualified for the state meet in the 200 yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke. She holds school record times in the 100-, 200-, and 500-yard freestyle, the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard individual medley, and is part of the record-holding 400-yard freestyle relay team.
Academically, Moss excels in all Honors and Advanced Placement classes with a 3.85 grade point average. She is also a Beta Club member.
While Rylee splits time with her high school team and a private swim club, she is an excellent example to other swimmers on both teams. She exhibits a high work ethic for herself but also helps others swimmers become better by encouraging them. She encourages her teammates to do the little things right by sharing her experiences that have helped her be successful. ~~ AHS Athletic Director Meredith Barnhill.
Rylee is dedicated and focused on being the best swimmer she can be. She practices almost every day of the year and her hard work is paying off as her times continue to drop. Although she practices all the time, she doesn’t let swim interfere with her school work, she is a great student. Rylee is an awesome swimmer, an awesome student, and an awesome young lady. ~~ AHS Swim coach Adam Joslin.
The January Elite Athlete of the Month representing Woodland High School is Lexie Robinson.
A senior guard on the Lady Cats’ basketball team, Robinson leads the team in scoring and rebounding.
One of her senior season highlights includes scoring 20 points in a quarter earlier this season during a game against Coosa at the Rome News-Tribune Christmas Tournament at Georgia Highlands College.
She is the daughter of Bruce and Melissa Robinson
“Lexie is returning from injury and is getting better with each practice and game,” said Woodland basketball coach Kyle Morgan. “She is a well rounded player who can dribble, pass, catch, shoot, and rebound. She has a good understanding of the game. She competes to win, is a great teammate, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to have coached her,” he concluded.
Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply, LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF.