Jimtown High School

Congratulations to our Fall Athlete Award Winners! Nash Hamby, Jayla Armstrong, Macie LaFree, and Carson Gingerich all were awarded the Kiwanis Fall Athlete Award on Tuesday, November 3rd. Information on each athlete will be found below. Nash Hamby Nash Hamby is a Senior at Jimtown High School. He is the son of Ayron Bringle and the late Steven Hamby. He has played baseball, track, and football for Jimtown and has excelled in all three. He is our star running back and has played a significant role in our defense for the past two years. He is our team captain for football. He finished the regular season with 147 Carries, 934 Rushing Yards, and a 6.4 Yards Per Carry Average. He has 11 Rushing Touchdowns, 6 Receptions, 89 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving Touchdown, 1,023 All-Purpose Yards, 12 Total Touchdowns. On defense, he had 14 Total Tackles 1 Interception. He also played varsity baseball for us as a Sophomore and was a key member of our team that won conference and sectional. He made some huge plays in the outfield that year. He has also runs track for us. He has a 3.7 GPA making honor roll throughout his high school career. Coach Vincent, “ Nash is an excellent candidate for the Kiwanis Award because of his character, leadership, work ethic, and commitment to excellence. He was voted a team captain this season and is the type of student-athlete every coach can trust to represent the program the right way. Nash consistently demonstrates strong character, competes relentlessly, and has an outstanding ability to overcome adversity and respond to challenges. He is also a strong student and was recognized as the Sports Michiana Student-Athlete of the Week this season. Nash has played a significant role in our football program over the past two seasons, contributing at both running back and on defense. Through eight games this season, he has rushed for over 700 yards and scored eight total touchdowns. Defensively, he has recorded 11 tackles and one interception. Beyond his on-field production, Nash's leadership, determination, and character make him a valuable member of our team and a deserving recipient of this award. His favorite sports memory is playing in regionals for baseball against Boone Grove. Nash plans to become a firefighter/ent in the area. Jayla Armstrong Jayla Armstrong is a Senior at Jimtown High School and the daughter of Eric and Tori Armstrong. She is a volleyball player for us at Jimtown. She has been a 4 year letterwinner for our program. Jayla is a very valuable outside hitter for our team. She surpassed 583 kills and 624 digs for her high school career. Her senior year, she had 277 kills and 234 digs. She has 127 aces for her career. She has had a career unlike any other volleyball players before her winning three straight sectionals and a regional championship as well as a confernce championship this past season. She was a leader on our conference championship team this past year winning 22 games. One of the most wins by any team in volleyball program history. She was an All Conference athlete this past season and team MVP. She has been academic all conference for the past two years. Jayla is also great in the classroom with a 4.04 gpa. She has been on A honor roll throughout her high school career She is a part of our National Honors Society and volunteers at Feed My Starving Children, the Life Skills Festival, our food drive, and in a service program called Adopt a Grandparent. Coach Herrity says of Jayla, “ Jayla’s impact on our program goes far beyond her statistics. She is an incredible leader and teammate, especially to our underclassmen. She encourages them, supports them, and leads by example through the effort and competitiveness she brings to the gym every day. This season, our program accomplished something incredibly special by winning our first conference championship since joining the conference, and Jayla was a huge part of that accomplishment. She believed in what this team could achieve and was always talking about what we could accomplish together. She never wanted herself or her teammates to settle for less, whether it was during a practice or in a match, and she continually pushed those around her to be better. Jayla also reached the incredible career milestone of 500 kills and 500 digs, which speaks to the well-rounded player she has been for our program. However, what I am most proud of is the teammate and leader she has become. She plays for the people around her, leads with her actions, and has helped set a standard that our younger players can continue to follow. I am extremely proud to nominate Jayla Armstrong for the Kiwanis Award.” Her favorite sports memory is staying in the hotel before semi-state with all the girls and team bonding there. Jayla's plans after high school is to go somewhere far for college and get a business degree. She plans to be a realtor. Macie LaFree - Cross Country and Track Macie LaFree is a Senior at Jimtown High School and daughter to Matt and Laurie LaFree. She has participated in Cross Country and Track for us. She has also been a member of our band. She is here for Cross Country As a member of our cross country team this past season, she made all conference by finishing 6th in the conference meet. She also was a regional qualifier by finishing 27th at sectionals. Her Personal record for the 5k is 21:28. She was Cross country academic all conference this past season. In track she was all conference honorable mention as well as academic all conference. She has also won the highest GPA award more than a few times in her sport. Macie boasts a 4.31 gpa. She has been on the A honor roll throughout her high school career. She is the National Honors societ president and senior class president. She has been a 6 year member of our band who has been a state finalist throughout the years she has participated. Macie is also part of our winter percussion ensemble for 5 years and has been part of that state finalist team as well as winning a state championship last season. Macie Volunteers at Lighthouse Vineyard CHurch, Feed my Starving children, adopt a family, and went on a Costa Rica Missions trip. Macie plans on attending Indiana Wesleyan University to study business and mathematics. Her favorite sports memory was getting a personal record by over a minute at cross country sectionals qualifying me for regionals. Coach Woolwine," This was her first year running XC, her race of the year she ran a 23:15 which I was surprised and excited to see being her first year. Then by sectionals she ran a 21:28 which was very good and enough to advance her to regionals. Macie has a competitive drive that is amazing. I wish I could have had her for all 4 years. She is a very respectful, hard working young woman, that no matter the situation if you ask her to push harder she will and her time shows the results. Macie was all Conference and a regional qualifier, she will also be awarded our Most Improved on the team. Macie has a ton of untapped potential still in her running career and I hope that she will continue to run in college next year." Carson Gingerich Carson Gingerich is a Senior at Jimtown High School. He is the son of Ryan Gingerich and Allison Falduto. He has been a member of our tennis, golf and basketball teams throughout his high school career. He is representing tennis for the award. He has been a 4 year letterwinner in tennis. In tennis, he has been our most consistent player the last three years. He is a three time all conference player. Winning the conference title at his position twice. He was our captain this past season. As our number one singles player he won 12 matches this past season. He also plays basketball for us. This will be his third year on varsity. He was captain for our team last season and will be again this season. Carson was our mental attitude award winner last year in basketball. He is a three year varsity golfer for us as well. In school, he has a 3.2 gpa. He has refereed at local organizations like club one and the fieldhouse in Mishawaka for the past three years. He hopes to officiate basketball at a very high level. He is a teacher apprentice for our Intermediate school at the 5th grade level. Our basketball Coach Varga, “ Carson possesses all of the traits of someone you want to be a part of your team. He is passionate, hard working, respectful, and dependable. I immediately was impressed with his leadership and made him our team captain, which he will again be this season. His intelligence and ambition are evident in everything that he does. I've never seen an athlete so passionate about his school more than Carson. He is truly an exceptional young man and can't wait to see what the future holds for him." Our tennis coach Firstenberger, “ Carson went 12-8 on the year in his senior tennis season at the 1 singles position. He showed great athleticism and sportsmanship towards his opponents, representing the Jimtown community well. I'm pleased to have coached him and am proud to say that he has embodied the Jimtown spirit well throughout his athletic career. With whatever he does next, I know he will give his best effort and be persistent in accomplishing his goals." Carson plans to either attend Ball State or Winthrop to play cornhole and study education. His favorite sport's memory happened in tennis winning team conference his sophomore year against Bremen.