West Faulkner

The year 2012 was special for sports in Union County. Looking back, we had state championships in multiple sports with several students earning scholarships to Division I schools. In the end, though, it was easy for me to select the two top individuals from a glorious year of competition. My Male and Female Athletes of the Year are: Strong's Kenneth Dixon and Junction City's Courtney Lowe. Dixon's high school football campaign was actually in 2011. But, it was so good, it bled all the way through into 2012. He led the Bulldogs to the 2A state championship and set a state rushing record along the way. Dixon finished with 3,153 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns. He also started for Strong's basketball team before setting the collegiate world on fire at Louisiana Tech. As a freshman, he set NCAA records for touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and points. He was named Freshman of the Year recently by Louisiana Sports Writers. Lowe led Junction City's softball team to its first ever 2A state championship, earning MVP honors along the way. She recorded an 18-3 record in the circle with a 1.50 earned run average and 245 strikeouts. Offensively, she swung, by far, the biggest bat at the state tournament and finished with a .522 batting average with six home runs. She also signed with Louisiana Tech and, of course, recorded a hit in her first at-bat during the Lady Techsters' abbreviated fall season. Team of the Year for 2012 goes to Junction City football. The Dragons went 14-1 and claimed the 2A state championship in dramatic fashion against Bearden 27-26. After a season-opening loss at Earle, Junction City won 14 straight, including two victories over the state runner-up Bears. Sports Writer of the Year for 2012 goes to, once again, Tony Burns. This is my twenty-something straight year to win the award. It never gets old, though. I'd like to thank myself for creating this award and myself for choosing the winner and send a special shout out to myself for thinking so highly of myself to bestow the honor upon myself. Also, thanks to Michael Orrell of the El Dorado News-Times for the photos of our top athletes. Happy Holidays Everybody!