FOR THE TENTH YEAR, POSITIVE ATHLETE NAMES LOCAL STUDENT-ATHLETES “MOST POSITIVE” IN THEIR SPORTS IN THE NW GA REGION!
For the tenth consecutive year, the Positive Athlete organization has named their Regional Award Winners for the Northwest GA Region, where Student-Athletes representing 25 different boys’ and girls’ high school sports, two coaches, and Rome High School have been selected as the “Most Positive“ in their categories. Positive Athlete’s Northwest GA Region consists of schools located in the following counties: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Pickens, Polk, Walker & Whitfield. In total, 23 different public and private high schools were represented among the winners for this year’s awards cycle.
Trion High School Football’s Garrett Mahan, a standout player known for his exceptional sportsmanship and dedication, was honored with the recognition of the Positive Athlete Award.
“I am beyond thrilled to receive the Positive Athlete Award,” Mahan told AllOnGeorgia. “Anyone on my team could have been chosen for this award, because I was apart of the most hard working, respectful, and supportive team ever. There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to have higher character or show more heart than you. All glory to God!”
This year, over 6,800 nominations from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers, and parents were submitted for the Positive Athlete program state-wide, representing over 420 public and private high schools. Former Forest Park High School, University of Georgia, and Pittsburgh Steelers star, Hines Ward, and local businessman Scott Pederson created Positive Athlete as a movement for more positivity in youth sports. In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100 percent all the time, and realizing the team as more important than the individual.