2017 AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES JOEL FERRELL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Joel Ferrell, a former aerospace engineer, made numerous contributions to the AAU. He held several positions with the AAU, including the presidency from 1976-78. He was also a vice president of the USOC. In December 1988, he passed away in his hometown of Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Below are the 2017 AAU Joel Ferrell Award winners. Congratulations to all!

Baton Twirling

The winner goes to Jazzelle Tribble of Jackson, Ohio. Jazzelle competed in the 16-18 age group where she placed 2nd in the Jazz Rec. Division, 3rd in the Freestyle Advanced, 2nd in AAT Adv., 1st in Two Adv., 2nd in Three Adv., 2nd in Multi Adv., 4th in X Strut Adv., 1st in 1 Baton Adv., and 2nd in Dance Twirl.

Cheer

The winner for Cheer was Daijah Cox from Metro Cheer Club. Daijah is a very young athlete who demonstrated great athleticism, charisma, sportsmanship, and energy. She was a pleasure to watch and a crowd favorite at the Games.She truly embodies what it means to be a Joel Ferrell Award Winner.

Jump Rope

The male and female winners were brother and sister, Devin and Jenna Meek from Ellicot City, Maryland.  Devin and Jenna were Double Dutch partners and had the highest overall score at the competition.

Karate

The male winner was Mikey McCann and the female winner was Gabriella Krempa both from the Busho Kai Martial Arts and Fitness Dojo in Mansfield, Texas. Both Mikey and Gabriella won Gold Medals in Kata, Kobudo and Kumite. 

Powerlifting

The female winner for Powerlifting was Alexandria Dodds and the male winner was Karter Brachear. Alexandria, from Lakeland, Florida, currently holds 16 World and 12 American AAU Records after the AAU Junior Olympic Games. She is also a 2017 AAU Scholastic All-America. Karter from Taylorville, Illinois, has won 18 AAU Junior Olympic Games Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal.

Swimming

The female winner was Molly Craig and the male winner was Cannon Fisher. Molly from USTA Club in the Niagara District. Molly set a National Record in the 100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly 200m Medley Relay, 400m Medley Relay, 200m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle and 400m Freestyle. Molly also excels out of the water as well. Molly finished in the top eight of her graduating class and was the Vice-President of the National Honor Society. Molly is attending Williams College in the fall where she will continue her swimming career and plans to be a Bio Med major.

Cannon Fisher, from Wynne, Arkansas, was born with a birth defect that should have prevented him from swimming. But that didn’t stop him and he even taught swimming lessons to younger kids throughout high school. Throughout all of this, Cannon maintained a 4.0 GPA and was an Arkansas Boy’s State Delegate.

Taekwondo

There were male and female winners Koby Pierson and Abigail Coutsciudis. Koby, a 4th grader from Katy, Texas, took home Gold in every Taekwondo event, 14 in total. Abigail, last year’s Joel Ferrell Award winner, is from Spotsylvania, Virginia. Abigail took home Gold in every event except Open Break, where she won Silver.

Track &Field

Winners from the running events were Brandon Miller and Tamari Davis. Brandon Miller of O Fallon, MO broke 15-16 Years Old Boys 800 Meters (1:49.87). Last year, Miller broke 14 Years Old Boys 1500 Meters (4:02.09). It is his 6th national title, but more impressive, it is his 5th national record in the 1500.  He has won the 1500 every year he has competed in it. Tamari Davis, of Clermont, Florida, broke the 32 year old record in the 14 Years Old Girls 200 Meters (23.26 Prelim).  Her time was the fastest ever run at the JO Games and the fastest time of all the girl’s age groups in the prelims and her time is US number 2 for high schoolers at the age of 14.  Her time would have broken the 15-16 and 17-18 girl’s record. This gives her 6 JO Games records.  Also, her time in the 100 prelims (11.48) is also the fastest time ever run in all age groups at the Games.

Winners from the multi events were Jahnelle Saunders and Connor Sheridan. Jahnelle Saunders, Hampton, Virginia won the 14 year old girls Pentathlon (3438).  She won 4 of the 5 events. At the AAU Club Championships, she won the 14 year old girls Pentathlon (3455) breaking an 18 year old record from 1999. Last year, she won the 13 year old girls High Jump (5-6) and Pentathlon (3284 Meet Record). She also placed 2nd in the Long Jump with a mark of 18-5.25 which was a tie for the record. She won the 100 hurdles for her third title of the week with a time of 15.08.

The winners of the Field events were Gabriel Oladipo and Skylar Ciccolini. Gabriel, a native of Missouri City, Texas, broke National Records in both the Discus and the Shot Put. Skylar, a native of Lewiston, Pennsylvania, set the National Record for Javelin and won by 50 feet.

Trampoline & Tumbling

The winners of the Joel Ferrell Award for T&T were Katie Lambert and Tate Moorehead. Tate, of Central Ohio Trampoline & Tumbling, is a member of the AAU National Team and was the 2017 Regional Champion in all four events. Katie, of Acrocheer, is headed to the University of Kentucky. She has been a member of the AAU National Team for six years, a 3x All-American, and a 24x National Champion. Kate has never missed a state or national AAU competition.

Wrestling

The Joel Ferrell Award winner was Andrew Perelka from club Brecksville in the Ohio District. Andrew won two AAU Bronze medals in 2015 and 2016 before winning the Gold this year. Andrew wrestled in the 120 lbs. weight class and went 14-0 during the games.

Weightlifting

There were two award winners the female winner was Savannah Brister and the Male winner was Noah Crofton. Both Savannah and Noah are from the Jets Barbell Club.

At time of posting, information has not been received from Field Hockey or Sport Stacking.