Award winners announced at Tiftarea banquet
Published 1:00 pm Thursday, March 20, 2025
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Elijah Smith, J.R. Walker and Ben Smith are Tiftarea Academy’s 2025 first-team All-Region basketball players. Elijah Smith also merited All-State.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette NCA All-American cheerleaders are Meri Alyce Statham, Jasmine Olson, Emmy Wiley and Addilyn Jones.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette First-team All-Region Lady Panthers are Kate Phillips, Kate Coogle and Laxi Connell.
CHULA — Tiftarea Academy cheer and basketball coaches announced various awards at their winter sports banquet March 12 at the gymnasium.
The Panthers had one All-State basketball player for 2024-25, sophomore Elijah Smith. Smith was the team’s leading scorer for the season.
Many Tiftarea players featured on All-Region lists, said coaches Tay Mallory and Rob Flick. Kate Phillips, Kate Coogle and Lexi Connell made All-Region for the Lady Panthers, and Elijah Smith, Ben Smith and J.R. Walker for the Panthers.
Honorable mention All-Region players were Makenna Graham, Madi Shoultz, Maci Shoultz, Andrew Connell, Whit Jordan and Fletcher Walker.
Kari Collins also announced awards for her cheer squads.
Earning GIAA All-State was Emmy Wiley. A trio of Panthers cheerleaders were members of the GIAA All-Star team, Isabelle Brown, Lexi Connell and Meri Alyce Statham.
NCA National All-Americans were Statham, Wiley, Jasmine Olson and Addilyn Jones.
In addition, Collins announced each grade’s honor student. Ninth grade is Illa Oliver, 10th is Kirkland Sumner, 11th is Carley Reese and 12th is Olson.
