All-Star Week Athletes Ready For Action
MADISON- The annual North-South All-Star Week competitions are set for July 15-18 in Montgomery and no less than 10 athletes and one coach from the four local schools are among the state’s elite to be selected for the events hosted by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
Teams comprised representing both the North half of Alabama and those representing the South half of the state will converge on the State Capitol for play against one another in golf, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, cross country and tennis during the week-long All-Star Week featuring rising seniors. The 65th annual North-South All-Star Football Game was played last December with the South winning 31-28.
Here are the list of the local players/coaches chosen to participate:
Baseball- Zack Johnson, Bob Jones, Catcher, 6-1, 185.
Soccer-Girls- Regan Boyd, Madison Academy, Midfielder, 5-4, Amber Smith, Sparkman, Midfielder, 5-7.
Tennis-Boys- Jason Park, James Clemens.
Basketball-Boys- Kaden Rickard, Bob Jones, Guard, 6-6, 170.
Basketball-Girls- Jaliyah Smith, Bob Jones, Guard, 5-10.
Volleyball- Kennedy Vaughn, Bob Jones, Outside Hitter, 5-11, Riley Lovell, Bob Jones, Setter, 5-6, Jenny Jarrett, Bob Jones, Head Coach.
Cross Country- Boys- Luke Alverson, James Clemens.
Cross Country- Girls- Kylie Gero, James Clemens.
Softball- Kent Chambers, Bob Jones, Administration.
“I am very excited and honored to be selected to coach the North team and obviously it makes it even more enjoyable to get to coach two of my own players in the game as both Riley and Kennedy have worked really hard to excel at their positions,” said Jenny Jarrett. “I also have known many of the players on the North squad through coaching club teams and playing against them in school competition. It is an awesome experience to get to coach so many high level players from across the north end of the state.”
For the Bob Jones duo, who were part of the team that finished runner-up in the Class 7A State Championships of the 2023 season, setter Lovell and outside hitter Vaughn had 19 assists and 16 kills, respectively, in the 7A finals for the Patriots.
Zach Johnson is fresh off a season of a lifetime for Bob Jones as the First-Team All-State catcher helped lead Bob Jones to the Class 7A Baseball State Championship. The Alabama commit batted .384 with 5 homers, 65 RBIs and striking out just 9 times in the season. He had a .986 fielding percentage behind the plate.
“I’m honored to be chosen for what I expect to be a fun experience as I’ll have a chance to meet new people in a competitive surroundings,” said Johnson, who is expected to sign with the Crimson Tide on National Signing Day. “I’ve been working out at the Bob Jones facilities with some of my teammates and my father when he can make it.”
The 17-year old is currently nursing an injured “pinky-finger/knuckle” on his left hand. He injured his hand in a tag play at the plate in one of his recent summer league games playing for the Viper Baseball Academy Black squad. He added, “This All-Star Game means I was chosen to be among the best and there’s only one opportunity for this event. I plan on making the best of my experience.”
