All-Star Sports week returns July 17-20
By TIM GAYLE
Between church retreats, soccer showcases and basketball tournaments, there isn’t a lot of free time for today’s high school senior athletes.
That includes those who are selected to play in the 27th Alabama All-Stars Sports Week, which will be held July 17-20 in the Capital City.
Still, most of those selected to play in the annual high school showcase for tennis, golf, volleyball, cross country, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball will drop everything for the opportunity to participate.
“I think it’s cool for everybody to be honored in that way,” said St. James’ soccer standout Katie Brightwell. “It’ll be hot, but it’ll be fun. And you get to play with everybody from different schools. It’s like a whole new group. I think it’ll be exciting.”
Brightwell is among the three dozen seniors-to-be from the River Region that will be participating in the week-long event, which got its start in Montgomery in 1997 with the return of a high school all-star football game and boys’ basketball game and the addition of girls’ basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball events.
Soccer was added the next year, followed by cross country in 2017 and tennis and golf in 2019.
From 1997 through 2019, players spent several days in the Capital City, practicing for their upcoming all-star game and enjoying time with their all-star teammates, much like college players in town for a bowl game. Players were selected for the 2020 event, but it was canceled by COVID-19 and during a break in summer competition, the football game was switched to a December date and moved to Mobile.
Beginning in 2021, players arrived in town on the day of the game, participated in a practice and the all-star game, then returned home. As a result, players could be chosen for multiple all-star events. A total of six players have been selected to play in both volleyball and girls’ basketball games, including Guntersville’s Taziya Harris and St. James’ Ava Card this year.
Card is one of two local players participating in Thursday’s volleyball game, along with Trinity libero Isabel Hill. Carver’s Virginia Franklin will reprise her role as an administrative coach for the event.
The all-star games kick off on Monday, July 17, with golf in the morning at Arrowhead Country Club and a baseball doubleheader that afternoon and evening at Riverwalk Stadium.
Local players participating in the golf event are Stanhope Elmore’s Kara Busbin, Montgomery Academy’s William Hall and Trinity’s Thomas Stewart. Baseball players from the area include St. James outfielder Clint Houser, LAMP catcher Andrew Lutz, Pike Road pitcher Drew Britton and Holtville pitcher Drey Barrett. St. James coach Keith Lucky and retired Trinity coach Ken Whittle will continue in their roles as administrative coaches for the game.
Tuesday is the busiest all-star game, with cross country, tennis and basketball games. Alabama Christian’s Kate Finch, Catholic’s Henry Skala and Trinity’s Matthew Blake will lead the South all-stars in the cross country race on Tuesday morning, while 10 players from Montgomery County fill out most of the South’s roster in tennis.
The girls’ tennis team will include Kingsley Johns and Kensley Williamson of Trinity, Stella Sponseller and Reilly Taylor of St. James and LAMP’s Reena Chen. Retired Trinity coach Elisa Bowden will continue to serve as administrative coach for the girls.
The boys’ tennis team will include Chandler Kimball and Patrick Quinn of Pike Road, Ian Kim and Ian Shin of LAMP and Samuel Treadwell of Trinity. Trinity coach Kelly Treadwell will serve as the administrative coach.
Tuesday’s all-star events will wrap up with the girls’ basketball and boys’ basketball games at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. Card will be joined on the South team by Pike Road’s Jazlyn Johnson and Brew Tech’s Erin Martin, while the boys’ team will include Brew Tech’s Johnathan Williams, Carver’s Conor McPherson and Jamicah Adair of Jeff Davis. LAMP athletic director and boys’ basketball coach Robb McGaughey will serve as the administrative coach for both South teams.
On Wednesday, the softball all-star squads will play a doubleheader at Lagoon Park Field Six, including Wetumpka pitcher-outfielders Mya Holt and Ella Watson and Prattville shortstop Kaylee Robles. The South squad will be coached by Brew Tech’s Chris Steiner.
An hour later, the girls’ soccer game will start at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex, followed by the boys’ all-star game at 7 p.m. Joining Brightwell on the South girls’ team will be Montgomery Academy forward Madison Yi and a pair of midfielders, Jeweliana Holton of Wetumpka and Ella Wiswall of Trinity. Ken Wright of MPS will serve as the administrative coach.
“Growing up, I’ve always watched people from St. James go and play and I’ve always looked up to them,” Brightwell said. “Now it’s my turn. I think it’s really cool to be honored this way.”
The boys’ team will be coached by Montgomery Academy’s Matheus Mello and will include a pair of his players, forward Win Berry and defender John Allen Lachney.
27TH ALABAMA ALL-STARS SPORTS WEEK
MONDAY, JULY 17
Girls golf – 10 a.m., Arrowhead Country Club
Boys golf -- 10 a.m., Arrowhead Country Club
Baseball – 4 p.m., Riverwalk Stadium
TUESDAY, JULY 18
Girls cross country – 8 a.m., Gateway Park
Boys cross country – 8:30 a.m., Gateway Park
Girls tennis – 5 p.m., Lagoon Park Tennis Complex
Boys tennis -- 5 p.m., Lagoon Park Tennis Complex
Girls basketball – 5 p.m, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl
Boys basketball – 6:45 p.m., Multiplex at Cramton Bowl
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
Softball – 4 p.m., Lagoon Park Softball Complex
Girls soccer – 5 p.m., Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex
Boys soccer – 7 p.m., Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex
THURSDAY, JULY 20
Volleyball – 2 p.m., Multiplex at Cramton Bowl