By Staff
Commentary by KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
A coach recently asked me who I thought was the best athlete I have covered. My answer was instantaneous — Trimane Goddard of Roanoke High School.
The kid was ridiculously good at any sport he attempted. Goddard was mind-boggling good and entertaining to watch as a quarterback/running back/defensive back for the Redskins.
As a pitcher, Goddard was usually lights-out. Besides playing football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Goddard had entertained the thought of playing baseball as well.
On the basketball court, Goddard was no slouch. He could easily soar through the air and hammer home a dunk.
In my 18 years of covering high school athletics, Goddard is the best overall athlete I’ve had the privilege to cover.
On the girls’ side, the best athlete I’ve covered is Amber Bollinger. She was a multi-star athlete at Bellevue High School in Ohio, where she shattered numerous high jump records, then went on to have a successful college career at the University of Cincinnati.
Locally, the top athlete I’ve covered is Meredith Knox. I get the feeling that Knox could pick up a sport and be a sensation at it in no time.
Here’s a glimpse at 25 other top male area athletes that I’ve covered in the last eight years, starting with Damien Linson of Plymouth. Linson was superb in football and basketball.
Elton Coffield of Williamston, Northside’s Derrick Leathers and Angelo Sharpless of Plymouth round out the top five. I only had the privilege of watching Leathers play basketball, and have heard countless stories of what a marvel he was on the football field. I’ve never seen anybody jump like Leathers.
Rounding out the top 10 are Southside’s Bryan Haywood and Jerermiah Marable, Washington’s Calvin Daniels, Raphael Marable of Southside and J.J. House of Williamston.
Jason Shaw of Bear Grass was solid in everything and anything he did, making him an easy pick to join the list. The rest of the top 20 are Marvin Jackson of Plymouth, Washington’s Travis Daniels, Terrance Davis of Northside, Roanoke’s Kenneth Hyman, Williamston’s Patrick Swift, Greg Potter of Mattamuskeet, Roanoke’s Dyquail Lloyd, Lee Watkins of Washington and Northside’s Milton Smith.
Capping off the top 25 are Derek Joyner of Terra Ceia, Jamont Jones of Washington, Washington’s Galen Niederhauser, Brock Harrison of Bear Grass and Washington’s Ben Peele.
Suzanne Lee was a star at Northside High School, shining in track, volleyball and basketball. She ranks just behind Knox on my top list.
Also earning top five spots are Mika Gurganus of Williamston, one of the fiercest competitors I’ve covered, Southside’s Kendall Sadler and Lindsay Shaw of Bear Grass. Sadler was brilliant in everything she did, playing her heart out each inning in softball or each point in volleyball. Shaw was just a go-getter and a true athlete in every sense of the word.
Rounding out the top 10 are Williamston’s Michelle Bracey, M.J. Williams of Mattamuskeet, Washington’s Cameron Whitehead, Brittany Ange of Jamesville and Roanoke’s Deborah Cherry.
Summer Rahn of Bear Grass was outstanding on the volleyball court and was an easy choice to make the list. Also making the top 20 are Washington’s Jessica Furlough, Williamston’s Joanne Rogerson, Megan Hollowell and Phelan Fletcher of Northside, Mandy Coltrain of Bear Grass, Washington’s Elizabeth Pruden, Samantha Smith of Washington, Washington’s Marella Peele and Jessica Joyner of Washington.
Capping off the top 25 are Northside’s Casey Alligood and Lauren Rodriguez, Southside’s Ashley Nanney, Lauren Harrison of Bear Grass and Washington’s Meredith Duke.
I know there are several outstanding athletes who are currently playing now, and I can’t wait to watch them in action.
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Kevin Travis is the Sports Editor of the Washington Daily News. You may reach him at 940-4217, or by e-mail at kevin@wdnweb.com.