Festival announces athletes to be honored at Sports Breakfast

The 97th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival has announced the list of area high school and college athletes who will be honored at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast on May 4.

The Sports Breakfast, in which former Pittsburgh Steelers great Rocky Bleier and current Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese have been announced so far as celebrities, will be held at 8 a.m. at Shenandoah University’s James R. Wilkins Jr. Athletics and Events Center.

The following are athletes who will be honored at the event:

Chase Ford

Millbrook

Ford is standout baseball and basketball player for the Pioneers.

He’s a four-year varsity player and three-year starter in baseball for Millbrook. Last season he hit .339, scored 20 runs and drove in 18 runs for the Pioneers, who finished 16-4. He was a First Team All-Class 4 Northwestern District selection and a Second Team All-Region 4C pick.

Ford also played three seasons on the basketball squad. This past season, he averaged 12.5 points and 2.8 assists and was selected First Team All-Class 4 Northwestern District and Honorable Mention All-Region 4D.

Ford, who has a 4.0 GPA, will play baseball at Bridgewater College next year.

McKenna Newcome

James Wood

Newcome is a standout girls’ soccer player for the Colonels, who has overcome a rare kidney disease to play again for the Colonels this season.

Prior to this season, Newcome had scored 60 goals and dished out 56 assists over the course of her high school career. In her sophomore season, she was The Winchester Star’s Player of the Year. As a junior, Newcome had 30 goals and 22 assists and was Region 4C Co-Player of the Year and Class 4 Northwestern District Player of the Year. She was also named to the Class 4 All-State First Team.

Newcome, who has a 4.4 GPA, has signed to play soccer at Division I Marshall University.

Manno Lusca

Handley

Lusca has earned nine letters at Handley, three each in football, outdoor track & field and indoor track & field.

He was a three-year starter for the Judges in football and turned in a spectacular senior season. On offense, he rushed for 1,344 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 9.0 yards per carry. Lusca was The Winchester Star’s Offensive Player of the Year, the Class 4 Northwestern District Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Region 4D pick. On defense, Lusca had 67 tackles and was a First Team All-Region 4D and All-Class 4 Northwestern District selection.

As a track athlete, he has competed in sprint events for the Judges.

Lusca, who has a 3.3 GPA, will play football at Emory & Henry in the fall.

Will Booker

Clarke County

Booker is a three-sport standout at Clarke County, having earned letters in football (3), basketball (3) and track (2).

In football, he was a three-year starter at defensive back and a two-year starter at running back. A cornerback on defense, he had 52 tackles and was selected First Team Class 2 All-State, All-Region 2B and All-Bull Run District. On offense, he rushed for 1,265 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 8.2 yards per carry and was selected First Team All-Region 2B and All-Bull Run District.

This past season he helped the basketball team return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2007. The First Team All-Region 2B pick averaged 12.6 points per game.

Booker is one of the area’s top high jumpers in track.

Booker, who has a 3.68 GPA, plans to go to a college of his choice in the fall.

Dylan McGraw

Sherando

McGraw has 11 varsity letters between cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field.

In cross country this past fall, he ran the second-fastest time in school history and placed fifth at the VHSL Class 4 meet. He had another All-State performance in the indoor state meet, placing sixth in the 1,600 meters, and contributed to a new school record as the anchor of the 4x800 relay team, which also placed 6th.

He owns the school record in the 3,200 and has the second-best time in the 1,600.

McGraw, who has a 3.3 GPA, will compete at the University of Lynchburg.

Gaven Vaughn

Mountain View Christian

Vaughn has earned eight varsity letters at Mountain View Christian Academy — three each in baseball and basketball and one each in cross country and soccer.

He has served as team captain in baseball, basketball and soccer. A three-year starter at shortstop for baseball and a two-year starter in basketball, Vaughn has a 4.0 GPA and intends to join the Air Force this fall.

Lillian Blevins

Legacy Christian

Blevins was a four-year player on the Legacy Christian Academy basketball and volleyball teams.

Blevins has a 4.0 GPA and has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholarship to Cedarville University.

Jaclyn Clark

Warren County

Clark has earned seven varsity letters at Warren County, four in basketball and three in soccer.

A four-year starter in basketball, Clark averaged 13.0 points and 2.7 assists for the Wildcats this past season. She was a First Team All-Region 3B and All-Class 3 Northwestern District selection.

She also is a three-year starter in soccer. As junior, she was a Second Team All-Class 3 Northwestern District and All-Region 3B pick.

Clark, who has a 3.9 GPA, is weighing her college decision.

Aidan Vaught

Skyline

Vaught has earned five varsity letters at Skyline, four in football and one in basketball.

It was on the gridiron where Vaught made his impact as one of the most dangerous breakaway players on offense and special teams. On offense, Vaught ran for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, including a program-record 452 yards in one game. He also caught 17 passes for 380 yards and two scores. He was First Team All-Class 3 Northwestern District and All-Region 3B pick. He was also Second Team All-Region 3B as a punt returner.

Vaught is the record holder at Skyline in career rushing yards, kick return yards, punt return yards, all-purpose yards and touchdowns.

Vaught, who has a 3.3 GPA, will continue his football career at Ferrum College.

Elise Velasquez

Shenandoah University

Velasquez, a defensive standout, played field hockey at Shenandoah University, appearing in 66 games and making 59 starts. SU was 54-13 during her playing career. Her stellar play earned her back-to-Back ODAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the past two seasons. She was selected by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association as a Third-Team All-American.

She is an exercise science and business major, sporting a 3.89 GPA and next fall she will play as graduate student while working toward a master’s degree.

Reserved tickets for the Sports Breakfast, which also will honor local high school and college athletes, are $45 for adults, $25 for children ages 12 & under, and $125 for those wishing a VIP experience. The VIP experience begins at 7 a.m., with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. for general admission. For ticket information see the website: https://www.thebloom.com/events.