Rising Huskies seniors denied chance to play in all-star games
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt in the high school sports world.
Even as school teams were permitted to begin working out once again on campus in June — with social distancing restrictions — a staple of the Alabama High School Athletic Association summer calendar will be missing.
Each July, the AHSAA conducts its All-Star Week in Montgomery. Part of the activities of the week include games and competitions involving the North-South All-Star teams from each sport. Teams are named from the rising senior classes in each sport, split by geography.
That event didn’t take place this year, but the all-star teams were still named, and several Hewitt-Trussville athletes found their names on the list.
Aaron Himes, Nathan Knox and Amelia Brady were all selected to represent Hewitt-Trussville in the cross-country event after distinguishing themselves as superior athletes throughout their high school careers to this point.
In winter sports, Amiya Payne of the Lady Huskies’ basketball team was selected to the all-star team as well. Payne averaged 19.5 points and six rebounds as a junior for a Hewitt-Trussville team that finished with a 19-9 record. Payne has over 1,400 points in her varsity career, with a season left to improve upon that number.
On the diamond, Skylar Jones put together an impressive junior campaign, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.58 earned run average in 31 innings as a pitcher for the Huskies. As a result, he was named to the baseball all-star team.
Cole Davidson (golf) and Blakely Valdez (tennis) were also named all-stars.
From the softball team, first baseman Crystal Maze was recognized as one of the top players in her class, serving as one of the top hitters for the defending Class 7A state champions. In 2020, Maze hit for a .485 average with five home runs and 11 runs batted in and was named a first-team Starnes Media All-South Metro player.
“Even though the game is canceled, I’m still extremely grateful that I was going to be given the opportunity to play with the top players in my class,” Maze said. “It was a very exciting moment for me to know that I reached one of the goals I’d been working toward the past couple years.”
Brooklyn Johnson from the Lady Huskies’ soccer team was also selected to the team, and first-year coach Lauren Wooten was named as one of the game’s coaches. It was also the realization of one of Johnson’s longtime goals.
“To be selected is a dream come true,” Johnson said. “I have to say I owe it all to my coaches as well as my teammates.”
Wooten was named as one of the coaches after leading the Lady Huskies to an 8-2 start to the season. Last spring, Wooten led Auburn High to the state final four.
“There are tons of amazing coaches in the state of Alabama so I am thrilled to be a small part of the AHSAA and representing the North coaching staff,” she said.
The 2020 fall seasons are still slated to begin on time in late August.