NOTES: Gorczyca earns Gatorade honors after standout freshman season
Palo Verde freshman Katie Gorczyca was named the Gatorade Nevada Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year on Thursday.
Gorczyca won the state title in 19 minutes, 49 seconds on a 3.1-mile course last fall to become the first freshman to win the championship since 1996. With the individual title, the Panthers notched their first team state championship, as well.
The Gatorade award honors athletic and academic achievement.
Gorczyca owns a 4.0 GPA, sits on her school’s student council, and performs volunteer work in fundraising efforts to benefit leukemia and lymphoma research, according to a news release.
Gorczyca is the first Palo Verde girls runner to win the award.
MCDONALD’S NOMINEES — A handful of local senior basketball standouts were named McDonald’s All-American nominees Thursday.
In boys basketball, Findlay Prep’s Amir Garrett, who has signed with St. John’s, joined teammates Nick Johnson (Arizona) and Myck Kabongo (Texas) in the nomination.
In girls basketball, Centennial’s Courtney Hayes (Louisiana Tech) and Ashley Klemz (Utah Valley), along with Virgin Valley’s Rachel Morris (Utah), received nominations.
FOOTBALL HONORS — Bishop Gorman quarterback Jarrett Solomon and Las Vegas High kicker Jay Mattox have been named to MaxPreps.com’s U.S. Air Force 2010 Sophomore All-American Team.
Solomon threw 41 touchdown passes to help Gorman repeat as Class 4A state champions, while Mattox hit 10 of 13 field-goal attempts for a Wildcats squad that advanced to the Sunrise Region title game.
Mattox was named to the first team, and Solomon earned second-team honors.