April 2019 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, local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville.
Recipients for April 2019:
Brady Craig -- Cartersville High School Nathan Gant -- Cass High School
Danarous Johnson -- Adairsville High School
John Shropshire -- Woodland High School
The April 2019 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School is Brady Craig. A junior forward on the Hurricanes’ soccer team, Craig led the team in scoring over the past month and created even more chances for other to score. He is a three-year member of the varsity team. “Brady has shown great composure on the field,” said Canes’ head coach D.J. Paradis. “He plays with an aggressive style and has a scored a pair of goals in each of our last three matches.” The son of Chris and Rhonda Craig, Brady is a strong forward that requires attention from other teams defensively and has the skill and speed to attack any defense on the field. Craig maintains a 3.5 GPA and plans on going to college where he would like to continue his soccer playing career.
Nathan Gant is the April 2019 Elite Athlete of the Month from Cass High School. A senior member of both the Colonels’ football and track and field team for four years, Grant carries a 3.46 GPA and is in the top fifty percent of his graduating class. The son of Michelle Rowell, Nathan has been a consistent point scorer for the Cass track and field team and has shown constant leadership from his freshman year forward. He is the 2019 Bartow County discus throw champion with a mark of 137 feet, 9 inches and has qualified for the State Sectionals with a runner-up finish in the discus at the Region 7-AAAAA Championships. He has also moved himself into third place in the school track and field record book with his top distance this season.
“Nathan has a strong work ethic and always maintains a desire to improve,” said Cass Director of Athletics Dr. Nicky Moore. “There is no doubt he will be successful at the next level.”
Following high school graduation, Nathan plans to continue his education and plans to throw the discus and hammer in college.
Adairsville High School’s Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2019 is Danarous Johnson. The son of Waylon Johnson and Tracy James, Danarous is a three-sport senior and a member of the Tigers’ football, basketball, and track and field teams. He is the track and field team’s leading scorer this season. Johnson recently qualified for the GHSA Class AAA State Sectional Meet in the long jump but also played receiver and cornerback for the Adairsville football team. He was a guard on the basketball squad and also competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, high jump, and was on the Tigers’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. “Danarous is extremely coachable and competitive,” noted Adairsville football and track and field coach Terry Gough. “He is very eager to learn, never complains, and is always willing to do anything to help out his team. He is a real pleasure to coach.” Johnson remains undecided in his collegiate plans.
The April 2019 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Woodland High School is John Shropshire. A junior member of Wildcats’ track and field and cross country teams, he is the son of Sam and John Shropshire. Shropshire won two individual events at the recent Region 7-AAAAA Track & Field Championships in Rome taking the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs. As a result, he has qualified for the GHSA State Sectional Meet in those two events and also qualified as a member of the Wildcats’ 4x400 meter relay team.
Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply Co., LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF.
