The News Leader WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024 1B SPORTS Complete coverage in Sports Extra Look for coverage of the NBA playoffs in Sports Extra, our subscriber-exclusive, eNewspaper section. FORT DEFIANCE Addyson Moo- ney started playing soccer when she was very young and played the sport for nearly a decade. But as she entered high school, Mooney was looking for a change. Her sister had played tennis, so the then Fort freshman thought give the sport a try. She gave up soccer completely.
Now, as a junior, the top player on the ladder. Though it may seem so, it an overnight success story. was a big said Mooney about going from soccer to tennis. She was voted The News athlete of the week in a race that was close throughout. A late push by Moo- ney fans put her in In two matches last week, both on the road, Mooney won both of her singles match- es.
She won at Stuarts Draft 8-3 and at Wilson Memorial 8-4. She play much as a freshman. Her coach, John Edgecomb, tried to get her in to matches when he could, but honestly he sure she would be a good tennis player. Edgecomb had spoken to Moo- ney about playing tennis as a seventh grader. She told him then she wanted to focus on soccer, so Edgecomb try to change her mind.
Then she showed up for tennis practice as a freshman. Although her freshman year go great, when Mooney returned for her sophom*ore year, Edgecomb could see she had put in the work and said he was surprised by how much she had im- proved. really was shellshocked when she came back as a Edgecomb said. all through her own hard She began last year in the No. 3 spot, then moved up to No.
2 by the end of the year. She 12-4 in singles. This year she is 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. Mooney is a captain of the team as a junior.
has placed this team on her Edgecomb said, encouraging her teammates, willingly working with them to help them im- prove and gain experience, and all the while being one of the top academic students in Fort junior If you have an athlete to nominate, please ask the coach to send the name and stats by Sun- day to Voting opens every Monday morning and closes Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. The winner is announced every Thursday on newsleader.com. This other nominees were: Maggie Parrott, Wilson Memorial, girls soccer: Parrott had a penalty kick goal against Stuarts Draft and an assist in a win over Staunton. Her coach, Brandon Fern, said been an asset for her passing accuracy and versatility, playing outside back on defense and left forward and on Grace Godette, Wilson Memorial, girls tennis: Godette won doubles Thursday against Fort 8-1, teaming with Liz Cameron. She also won her singles against Fort 8-3.
Wednesday against Spotswood, Go- dette teamed with Cameron to win dou- bles 8-6. Caroline Alger, Gap, soft- ball: In a pair of games last week, Alger had hits, six RBIs and a pair of home runs. The senior also pitched in both games, allowing only one run on two hits and striking out 15. Patrick Hite is The News education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome.
Contact Patrick at and follow him on Twitter Subscribe to us at newslea- der.com. Fort Addyson Mooney is 6-2 at the No. 1 spot this season. She is a captain of the team as a junior. PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN EDGECOMB Mooney puts Fort on her shoulders Junior tennis player picks up Athlete of the Week award Patrick Hite Staunton News Leader USA TODAY NETWORK The 2024 NFL draft has come and gone.
OTAs begin in late May. This is the time period when NFL teams out their rosters at positions that addressed during the draft. There are plenty of impactful free agents still available who can be Week 1 starters, including safety Justin Sim- mons, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Will your favorite team land one of the best free agents still available? USA TODAY Sports ranks the top free agents available following last NFL draft: 1. Safety Justin Simmons: Is the safety position becoming less impor- tant due to the increased amount of short passes? Plenty of safeties are available, but Simmons is at the top.
Since entering the NFL in 2016, no play- er has more interceptions than Sim- mons (30). 2 Cornerback Stephon Gilmore: The 2019 defensive player of the year stepped up last season, especially when Trevon Diggs (knee) went down for the year. Gilmore will turn 34 during the reg- ular season, but showed last year he can still play at a high level. 3. Safety Quandre Diggs: Diggs was a salary cap casualty.
He started every game for Seattle the past four seasons and is a three-time Pro Bowler as well as a team captain. The 31-year-old safety produced over 90 tackles in two of the last three seasons. 4. Cornerback Xavien Howard: coverage ability declined a lit- tle bit last year. He allowed nearly a completion percentage when targeted, the second-highest rate of his career.
But entering his ninth year, Howard is still a starting-caliber corner. 5. Defensive lineman Calais Camp- Beckham among top remaining free agents Tyler Dragon USA TODAY Former Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. runs after a catch during a game last season against the Lions. TOMMY TODAY SPORTS See NFL, Page 3B If you thought drawing the dreaded No.
17 post position for the Kentucky Derby would faze Fierceness owner Mike Repole, think again. was one-for-a-million in my Repole said. for 44 is way better odds than one-in-a-million. in. Despite getting the 0-for-a-lifetime No.
17 post, Florida Derby winner Fierceness was named the 5-2 morn- ing-line favorite during Saturday draw for the 150th running of the $5 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. In 44 tries, the No. 17 post never has produced a Kentucky Derby winner. Forty Niner came the closest, second to Winning Colors in 1988. Since the introduction of the start- ing gate in 1930, the No.
17 spot is the only one of 20 that produced a Derby winner. be the of many said Repole, the multibillionaire who created and sold two beverage compa- nies (Glaceau and BodyArmor) to make his fortune. never been afraid to try to be the in anything done in life. Why would a 17 post scare me, you A full of 20 plus two also-eli- gibles was entered for the Kentucky Derby, which has a post time of ap- proximately 6:57 p.m. Saturday and will be televised live by NBC.
a look at the winners and los- ers from draw: Winners Brad horses With Catching Freedom at No. 4, Just a Touch at No. 8 and Encino at No. 9, the Louisville trainer avoided the extreme inside and outside posts. Just a Touch and Encino both have early speed and to be near the front early.
a Touch jockey Florent Ge- roux) has already texted me that he likes the Cox said. looking at Fierceness (No. 17) and (No. 12) Track Phantom from the outside of us. I know what the plan will be with Dornoch from the 1 hole.
They might have to be aggressive KENTUCKY DERBY 150 Losers in post position draw Favorite Fierceness draws lone post never produced winner Jason Frakes Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY NETWORK See DERBY, Page 4B.
