FALL RIVER: The hard work, dedication and commitment put in over four years of high school athletics paid off for Isa Hayward and Tucker Potter on Wednesday morning.
Hayward and Potter were named the Female and Male Athletes of the Year during the annual Miller Awards ceremony at Lockview High School in Fall River.
The prestigious Miller Awards recognize students who best exemplify the values of LHS through outstanding leadership, athletic accomplishment, dedication and citizenship.
For Hayward, the honour was a fitting conclusion to a busy athletic career that saw her compete for the Dragons soccer team, hockey team, field hockey team and lacrosse team, while also running on the school’s 4×400-metre relay team.
“I was really happy to win this award,” said Hayward. “I worked really hard, and I found it really hard over my years of high school balancing academics and sports.
“I’m glad for my senior year I was able to complete it and I’m really glad with how I’m leaving it.”
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Hayward said balancing multiple sports while keeping up with schoolwork was not always easy, especially during her graduating year.
“It was a lot. A lot of stress,” she said. “You just have to think that in a couple of years you would regret not doing it.
“It’s better to battle and figure it out in the moment rather than regret it in a couple of years.”
The senior said winning the award leaves her feeling proud of what she accomplished throughout her high school career.
“I’m really happy. I’m really proud of myself,” said Hayward. “I really did work really hard and it was hard to balance everything.
“A lot of times practices were one after the other, or I’d have to leave one a couple minutes early to get to the other.”
She also credited the people around her for helping make the achievement possible.
“I’m really glad that everyone supported me, and the coaches obviously,” she said. “The coaches have been great. I love them all.”
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Potter, meanwhile, capped off a remarkable athletic career of his own.
He suited up for an impressive list of sports during his time at Lockview, including football, baseball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, badminton, rugby, and track and field.
“It’s cool to win in your last year of high school sports,” said Potter after receiving the honour.
The recognition of Hayward and Potter highlighted the impact both student-athletes made on Lockview athletics, not only through their performances on the field, rink and track, but also through the leadership and dedication that embody the spirit of the Miller Awards.
Other major award winners were:
Exemplary Participation – Max Brien, Sarah Hughes
Rookie of the Year: Male: Jackson Swan; Female: Kate Whitman
Teams of the Year: Girls baseball; Intermediate boys skiing
Freshman Scholar Athletes: Male: Laidin Cornell; Ethan Johnson; Female: Rylan Soper
Sportsperson of the Year: Male: Tucker Potter; Female: Paityn Fownes
Most Dominating Performance: Anna Carruthers
Senior Scholar Athlete: Male: Alex Damcyk; Female: Reese Adams
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