2019: Top Ten Individual Sports Stories

Marty Allison
Dickson Sports Media

In a follow up to the Top Ten local teams in 2019, it's time to turn our attention to some of the top local individuals stories. This one was tough. At times more than one athlete was combined into a slot, but such is the nature of the beast. After consulting with several local coaches and sports personalities, the time has come to reveal the list.

10. Lennon Spicer. The Creek Wood ace helped the Lady Red Hawks to a third place finish at the state tournament while posting huge numbers at the plate and in the circle. Spicer will take her talents to the OVC and Morehead State after graduation.

9. Jett Jackson. The Dickson County right-hander made instant Purdue University baseball fans out of many local baseball enthusiasts when he signed on with the Boilermakers. Big Ten baseball. Big time baseball for one of ours.

8. Jack Story. Story, a UT-Martin golfer, is a well known player around the state. Story was named OVC Golfer of the Week three times and had three top-20 tournament finishes for the Skyhawks last season.

7. Tre'vonn Rybka. The Dickson County defensive lineman created a following during his recruiting process. After wading through offers from nearly every SEC school, Rybka signed with Kentucky. People, the SEC is a big deal. SEC football is a REALLY big deal.

6. Coaches Corner. Nancy Jackson (Creek Wood Softball). The 2019 season saw Jackson reach and pass the 500 career win mark. Chris Clapper (Creek Wood Baseball). Clapper also reached a huge milestone last spring by hitting the 300-win mark. Walt Bell (UMass Football). Bell has coached around the nation, finally landing his first collegiate Head Coach position. On September 28, Bell picked up his first win as a college head coach. Kristen Mattio (West Texas A&M). Last season Mattio coached her team to a 29-4 mark, winning her second straight Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year award.

5. Sarah Potter. As a sixth grader this fall, the Dickson Dragons cross county runner became the first-ever sixth grader to win the Tennessee Middle School State Championship, beating nearly 400 runners. Potter also placed as Bronze Medalist in the Nationals.

4. Danny Stansberry. The Creek Wood running back stacked up impressive numbers as the Red Hawks went two deep in the playoffs. Stansberry was named Region Offensive Player of the Year and most recently was named to the All-State team.

3. Team Pro. This is really a category on its own. Anytime you make your living playing sports on a professional level, you've done something. Something big. We have several professional athletes from our small community. I hope I haven't missed any. JeQuan Lewis and Rachel Bell are playing professional basketball in different international leagues. Trevor Daniel, first with Texas and more recently signing on with the Denver Broncos in the NFL. Ben Wolcott is grinding away on the professional golf scene. We also have three dancers that are with professional teams. Elizabeth Franklin (NFL, Tennessee Titans), Lindsey (Peeler) Foster (NHL, Nashville Predators), and Katie Rampaul (NBA, Memphis Grizzlies).

2. McKray Odom. Everyone knew Odom was a star at Dickson County, but now the Trevecca senior is known around the softball world. Odom is one of the top offensive threats in the nation. She's an All-American and was named to the National Player of the Year Watch List for the upcoming season.

1. Hunter Wolcott. The Wolcott name is synonymous with golf in Dickson County. The University of Tennessee golfer was most recently named as the Amateur Golfer of the Year in the state of Tennessee by the Tennessee Golf Association.