2023-24 News-Gazette Preps Program of the Year: Tuscola Warriors

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From a historic boys’ cross-country state title in the fall to a couple solid basketball seasons in the winter to a pair of state track and field runner-up finishes in the spring and everything in between, the Tuscola Warriors earned The News-Gazette’s title of high school Program of the Year. Preps coordinator Zach Piatt caught up with Tuscola athletic director Ryan Hornaday and four standout seniors — Jackson Barrett, Brayden Gough, Syndey Moss and Zoey Thomason — to discuss a memorable 2023-24 school year:

2023-24 Preps Year in Review: 10 notable senior males

Compiled by preps coordinator Zach Piatt, here are some of the best from the Class of 2024

2023-24 News-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year: Centennial's Jack Barnhart

After an All-State First-Team football season in Class 6A that included 114 tackles from the defensive line and a 44-0 wrestling season that was capped with a Class 2A state title at 285 pounds, Centennial senior Jack Barnhart is The News-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year.

2023-24 News-Gazette Female Athlete of the Year: Salt Fork's Macie Russell

Macie Russell’s family wasn’t home very much throughout her four years at Salt Fork High School, primarily because everyone was out supporting her as she competed in five sports for the Storm — including volleyball, cross-country, basketball, track and field and softball.

Ryan Hornaday

Athletic director, boys’ track and field coach

➜ My reaction is ... it was really exciting. The (Preps Year in Review) is one of my favorite reads of the whole year. It’s pretty cool that we’ve risen to the top this year. We’ve been on a pretty good run of things. Once you get the ball rolled up the hill, you’ve just got to keep it rolling.

➜ I take pride in ... the key to success in most schools, especially small schools, is multi-sport athletes, and the vast majority of our kids are multi-sport athletes. We’ve had a good run for a long time with multi-sport athletes, and we’re super proud of all those kids. More than anything, getting kids connected is so important. Sports are a really good way for kids to belong to something.

➜ My favorite memories are ... the state trophies really jump out at you. We kicked it off really well in the fall with cross-country, and both track teams buttoned it up pretty nicely. I’d be lying if I didn’t say state trophies are a big deal, but it’s not all about that. One thing that overrides everything is relationships. Our kids are willing to fight a little bit harder because they know we care about them. It makes it a little more special.

Jackson Barrett

Boys’ cross-country, boys’ basketball, boys’ track and field

➜ My reaction is ... it was pretty cool. It shows our diversity in sport and how all of our programs do pretty well. We have a lot of three-sport athletes, and I think a lot of stuff carries over. A lot of our seniors play multiple sports, and it makes all of our programs pretty strong here.”

➜ I take pride in ... we’re a small school. I only have like 60-something kids in my grade. It kind of feels like an uphill battle when you play some bigger schools with a lot more people. It’s really cool that we showed we belong. We worked hard and got there.

➜ My favorite memories are ... cross-country was really fun every meet. It felt like we were doing something that hadn’t ever been done before, and we were breaking a lot of boundaries. That was a really cool experience. There were a lot of small moments with teammates of banter and messing around. On the bus ride home from every meet, we’d start chanting random stuff. It was just constant energy, and I think that’s why we did so well. Everyone was always looking forward to the next meet or the next game.

Brayden Gough

Boys’ golf

➜ My reaction is ... it was pretty amazing. There are really good athletic programs around our area, and this shows the work that’s been put into athletics around here and how it’s really paid off.

➜ I take pride in ... athletics are a big part of our school. Our track and cross-country haven’t necessarily shined in the past, but they’ve really broken through the past few years. It just adds to the accomplishments we’ve made.

➜ My favorite memories are ... I played in the CIC golf tournament, and that was the most energetic, competitive match I’ve ever played. I played with Brooks Cluver from Clinton. He’d get me one hole, and I’d one-up him on the next one. It all came down to the last hole, and I got him for the win. Tuscola boys’ golf hasn’t seen that spotlight in many years, so that was special.

Sydney Moss

Volleyball, girls’ basketball

➜ My reaction is ... that was pretty awesome. A lot of these kids, including myself, have worked really hard this year. We’ve been doing pretty good in athletics, so it’s a good accomplishment.

➜ I take pride in ... we value our academics, but we do hold value with our sports. It’s awesome when we get big things like this that bring everyone together.

➜ My favorite memories ... are going to games, sitting in the student section and supporting all the other players. During basketball season, we loved going to watch the boys. Even showing up at track meets and stuff like that was always fun.

2023-24 Preps Year in Review: 10 notable senior females

These athletes, all extremely talented and deserving of all the fanfare, didn’t always get the individual praise, but preps coordinator Zach Piatt revisits each of their final rides

Zoey Thomason

Volleyball, girls’ golf, girls’ basketball, softball

➜ My reaction is ... I was really excited. It’s a big accomplishment. It’s really fun to be a part of, and I’m proud of everybody in the school who made this happen.

➜ I take pride in ... there are a lot of kids with a lot of pride at this school. We have really big school spirit, and that helps us when it comes to big games. We pack the house, and that’s a big deal in winning those games and leading to this.

➜ My favorite memories are ... we had a pretty solid basketball team, so we were hype for every game. Even when we were playing better competition, we’d hype ourselves up on the bus and be like, ‘Guys, we’re winning this. Don’t take anything for granted. Leave everything you have out there.’