From The June 19 Edition of The Bridgeport News
BB&T Sports Banquet Honorees from BHS;
including Male and Female Track Athletes
of the Year - Chris Hampton and Rachel Williams

by Jeff Toquinto
Editor of The Bridgeport News

For the first time in several year, Bridgeport High
School did not walk away with one of the overall
athlete of the year honors at the annual BB&T Athlete
of the Year banquet held last night at Via Veneto.
But, the Indians once again dominated the individual
awards at the 17th annual showcase that highlights
athletic and academic achievement. Of the 18
individual sport athlete of the year honors,
Bridgeport walked away with an event-high eight.
The honorees, and their accomplishments are as follows:
Rachel Williams, academic athlete of the year:
Williams, one of Bridgeport High School's
valedictorians, proved that success can be achieved at
a high level on and off the field. Williams was also
the girls track athlete of the year (see below).
Kate Merinar, girls cross country: - Big things may be
in store for the Bridgeport girls cross country team
thanks to the arrival of Merinar. Despite being a
freshman, Merinar was the individual winner in the
Harrison County Cross country meet with a time of 22
minutes and 23 seconds. That mark was better than 30
seconds faster than the runner-up.
Justin Caroli, golf: Just a junior, Caroli helped
carry on a long tradition on strong Bridgeport golf
teams. And, he did it by taking low medalist honors at
this year’s Class AA golf championship at Wheeling’s
Speidel course. Caroli carded a 156 to earn the honors
and help the Tribe to a third place finish.
Kash Keifer, boys soccer: Keifer helped the Indians
soccer team to get within one game - and one goal - of
the state tournament. Keifer’s strength was on offense
where he scored 36 goals as a junior for the 16-4-1
Indians. His goal totals were tops in Region IV, which
covers a large portion of the state.
Michaela Nicas, girls soccer: Although the numbers
weren’t gaudy, Nicas once again played a key role in a
solid season by BHS, primarily contributing from a
defender’s spot and also playing center-midfielder,
Nicas’ efforts helped Bridgeport to a 13-5-1 record,
which was the best mark in school history.
Kimberly Sickles, girls swimming: Tasked with carrying
on a family legacy that included a Division I swimming
and basketball sibling, Sickles did quite well. A
four-time all-state swim team member, Sickles capped
her senior year with wins in the 100-yard and 200-yard
freestyle events. She will continue her career at West Virginia University.
Chris Hampton, boys track: After a disappoint junior
campaign at the state meet, Hampton made up for it in
a big way. Hampton helped the Indians to tie its
highest finisher ever in Charleston and scored the
most points ever by taking a pair of first place
finishes. Hampton won the 100 meter dash and the long
jump and totaled 21.25 points in the meet.
Rachel Williams, girls track: Throughout her senior
season, Rachel Williams was a model of reliability for
the Indians. Although not always the club's top point
scorer, she was usually the most consistent. Williams
did dominate at the Harrison County championship where she scored 28.5 points.
Sarah Rudy, girls tennis: Rudy, earning a trip to the
state tournament in the No. 1 seed category, was
strong throughout the year for BHS. In girls’ first
round action,Rudy defeated Bluefield’s Paige Goforth
8-4, before suffering a 2-6, 2-6 loss to defending
state champion Kristen McClung of Charleston Catholic.
Rudy, a sophomore, will be back in 2004.
The athlete of the week winners honored include Rachel
Sigler (volleyball); Justin Caroli (golf); Christian
Marsh (football); Shawn Adkins (football); Rachel
Williams (volleyball); Chris Heater (football); Nick
Carbacio (basketball); Lauren Gilbert (basketball);
Leah Snider (basketball); Brittany Csonka (swimming);
Kimberly Sickles (swimming); Brandon Brumage
(baseball); Rachel Williams (track); and Stephanie Wanstreet (softball).
Members to be honored for all-county first team
selections include the following football players.
Offensive honorees included Heater, Gary Spitznogle
and David Scranage; defensive honorees include Mike
Burns, Kenny “Spud” Kerr; Joe Stout, Marsh and B.R Hathaway.
Volleyball selections include Williams and Sigler. The
lone girls basketball selection was Gilbert. The boys
basketball team had Carbacio and Chris Carey.
On baseball, Carey and Brumage were honored. The
softball first team members honored last night were
Wanstreet, Ashley McCauley, Amanda Reed and Kayla Show.
The athlete of the week winners are picked by the
staff of the Exponent Telegram. The all-Harrison
County teams are picked by the Exponent-Telegram staff
and the coaches submitting ballots.