Press Democrat honors 8 Redwood Empire high school students as athletes of the year

Eight local athletes with exceptional skills, stats and smarts have won this year’s Press Democrat All-Empire Athlete of the Year scholarships.

Chosen from almost 150 nominees submitted from high schools in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Marin and Mendocino counties, these students exemplify the hard work and dedication it takes to be among the best athletes and student-athletes in the region.

The eight overall winners - four girls and four boys from large- and small-school categories - won $500 college scholarships from The Press Democrat for either their athletic prowess or academic success.

“These young men and women represent our best and brightest. Their accomplishments - in competition, in the classroom and in their communities - are an inspiration to all of us,” said Press Democrat Sports Editor James Barger.

The scholarship winners in the athlete category are basketball player Hailey?Vice-Neat of Cardinal Newman and three-sport stars Jack Newman of Analy, Riley Goff of Kelseyville and Fort Bragg’s Lucas Triplett.

Student-athlete winners are Santa Rosa senior runner Luca Mazzanti, Round Valley basketball and volleyball player Shayleena Britton, three-sport athlete Tony Pardini of Anderson Valley and three-year Montgomery varsity tennis player Margherita Andreassi, the group’s only junior. The scholar-athletes all had perfect or nearly perfect grade-point averages, and many took multiple honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Nominations for the 23rd annual awards came from schools that compete in the North Bay League, Sonoma County League, the North Central Leagues I, II and III and the Small School Bridge League.

A team of editors, columnists and reporters reviewed the nominees and selected the winners from a strong group of candidates that included athletes from almost every sport. The nominations included information about each athlete’s sporting and academic achievements, their hobbies and interests and their involvement in school and community activities. The eight top winners received $500 scholarships to use as they begin their college sports and academic careers.

The youths plan on attending colleges and universities including Boise State, West Point, UC Davis, Sonoma State, San Francisco City College and Santa Rosa Junior College.

You can reach staff writer Lori A. Carter at 707-521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.