A good group of senior student athletes honored by GDW:
Seniors in county schools earn this by GDW based on performances:
GDW Analysis:
With this story being presented by Gameday Weekly, seniors in the Class of 2025 in the Cullman County school system are now graduates.
The county schools conduct their graduations from Tom Drake Coliseum at Wallace State CC. It has been a long time tradition between the school system and the community college.
This is different as yours truly will celebrate 46 years as a Good Hope High School graduate on Wednesday. County schools back then held their graduations on campus.
GDW presents the top student athlete from each county school as this group factored in to performing well in two sports during the 2024/25 AHSAA season.
The guideline by GDW is the athlete is a senior and played in two sports during their final year as a student athlete.
Top performer:
Tyler Cone of Good Hope HS. Cone was the QB for a 10 & 2 football team that won the 4A, Region 6 championship. Cone was voted the most valuable offensive player by the county football coaches.
Cone also provided quality to Raider basketball. Cone was all county, all area and a member of the GDW all performance team.
Cone has committed to play basketball next year at the University of Montevallo.
Cold Springs HS selection:
Matt Williams - football and basketball
Fairview HS selection:
Blake Rikard - football and basketball
Hanceville HS selection:
Peyton Twilley - football and basketball
Holly Pond HS selection:
Sawyer Olinger - football and basketball
Vinemont HS selection:
Kayden Henderson - football and baseball
West Point HS selection:
Jay Lamar - basketball and baseball.
Contributions:
Williams was all county and all area for Cold Springs basketball who won the 2A, Area 11 championship and hosted a sub regional playoff.
Rikard was a quality receiver for Fairview football with the Aggies 9 & 0 in the regular season and into the 2nd round of the 5A state playoffs.
Twilley served as quarter for Hanceville football and point guard on the basketball squad. His leadership was a high value in leading the Bulldogs through competitive foes in both sports in Class 3A.
Olinger was like Twilley, a QB and the Holly Pond Broncos' PG. Olinger earned all county, all county tournament honors in basketball, helping Holly Pond to an upset of No. 1 seed West Point in the county semifinal.
Henderson showed his football skills for Vinemont in the offensive and defensive backfield. Vinemont tallied a 7 & 3 regular season, the Eagles' best since the same mark in 2020.
Henderson was the shortstop and leadoff hitter for baseball with Vinemont an Elite 8 for the first time in school history. The Eagles went 26 & 12 getting to the quarterfinals in 3A.
Lamar leaves West Point as the Warriors' all time leading scorer in basketball. Lamar earned the Eli Thomas Memorial Scholarship award from the Cullman County basketball tournament.
Lamar was a regular in the lineup for West Point baseball, playing left field.
GDW congratulates the top senior male athletes from the county schools and wishes them the best in their future.
Photo of Good Hope QB Tyler Cone rushing against Cordova in a 4A, Region 6 game September 20, 2024. Good Hope won 27 to 0. Photo courtesy of the Daily Mountain Eagle.
