LITTLE ROCK-Trinity Christian distance runner Elizabeth Gillette and Horatio pitcher Tanner Vaught were named Wednesday as Wendy's High School Players of the year in girls' track and baseball, respectively, for the 2015-2016 school year.
A total of 22 athletes, representing 23 sports, were selected. Each winner will receive a certificate and a medallion at Wendy's Day of Champions luncheon in downtown Little Rock on next Wednesday.
Elizabeth Gillette
Gillette was the captain of the Lady Warriors' track team that captured a fourth straight state track and field title. In her senior season she broke three state records.
Class valedictorian with a 4.0 grade point average and a 29 on her ACT, Gillette has signed with Arkansas Tech.
"You will not find a a better person than Elizabeth Gillette," said her coach, Jeff Haynes. "She is humble. She is caring. She is selfless. She is a G0d-fearing young woman who is going to make an impact on the world."
Gillette, who took up running two-and-a-half years ago, is at the beginning of her trajectory as a runner, Haynes said.
"Runners only get faster the first seven years they are in the sport," he said. "It's almost unimaginable how good she can become over the next four years.
"I've had kids who worked very hard, but weren't all that talented. I've had kids who were talented, but didn't work that hard, but Elizabeth is the first talented kid I had who really worked hard."
Haynes said he had to be careful to be precise about what he wrote on a workout calendar he keeps for his team.
"No matter the circumstances, she was going to do what was written down. She only missed one workout in 2 1/2 years. That's how disciplined and focused she is," Haynes said. "She wants to be a surgeon and I will be surprised if she doesn't achieve that. She is so goal-oriented."
Tanner Vaught
Vaught led Horatio to the Class 3A state baseball championship this season. He was the all-tournament team's most valuable player. He pitched a shutout in the title game against Booneville, 7-0.
His 16-game win streak began after he returned late in his junior season after suffering a knee injury playing basketball his sophomore year. He went 4-0 as a junior and 12-0 as a senior.
Vaught and Cole Boyd, his battery-mate, were selected to play in the Arkansas All-Star baseball game at Bear Stadium on the University of Central Arkansas campus Tuesday, June 21, in Conway. Their coach, Lance Spigner, was chosen for the coaching staff.
Vaught, who has signed to play with Southern Arkansas, has a real up-side, Spigner said.
"He locates the ball well," Spigner said. "He throws all three pitches-fastball, curve, change-for strikes. Not just for strikes, but he can put it where it needs to be.
"Of course, it doesn't hurt that he throws in the mid-80s," Spigner said. "Once he spends more time in the weight room, his velocity is going to jump even more."
Vaught is the type of youngster every coach likes to have on his team, his coach said.
"He's a first-class kid," Spigner said. "He's an extremely hard worker. Smart. Does real well in the classroom. Just a good, solid, young man."