Here are 10 Nashville area high school sports athletes to watch in 2019 – The Tennessean

Here are 10 Nashville area high school sports athletes to watch in 2019  The Tennessean

It’s a new year and school is back in session.

Here is a look at 10 athletes in 10 different sports who will continue to emerge as some of the best in their sport in 2019.

Stephen Avery

MBA, Jr.

Sport: Boys lacrosse

Avery scored a team-leading 37 goals and had 19 assists for the Big Red, who reached the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association’s Division I semifinals in 2018.

Caroline Frist

Ensworth, Sr.

Sport: Girls lacrosse

Frist, a multi-sport athlete, scored a Nashville-area best 91 goals in 2018. She added 13 assists and caused 37 turnovers for the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association runner-up Lady Tigers. She was also a finalist for the Tennessean’s girls lacrosse player of the year in 2018.

Reggie Grimes II

Mt. Juliet, Sr.

Sport: Football

Grimes (6-4, 220) is a five-star prospect according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the No. 1 prospect in the state for the Class of 2020 and the No. 2 weak side defensive end prospect in the country. Grimes had 48 tackles and 11 quarterback hurries in 2018.

Robert Hassell III

Independence, Jr.

Sport: Baseball

Hassell, a Vanderbilt commitment, was the District 11-AAA player of the year in 2018. He hit .416 with nine doubles, six home runs and 52 RBIs.

Liam Hussey

Ravenwood, Jr.

Sport: Hockey

Hussey was a nominee for the Tennessean’s hockey player of the year in 2018. He’s well on his way to achieving that honor in 2019. Hussey leads the GNASH league in goals (29) and points (39) through 13 games this season.

Nathan Irwin

CPA, So.

Sport: Boys tennis

Irwin is a four-star prospect and has reached the TSSAA’s state tournament as an eighth-grader and freshman. He won the Division II-A singles state championship in 2018.

K.J. Johnson

Marshall County, Sr.

Sport: Boys basketball

The Lipscomb signee is the best scorer in the Nashville area. He can create his own shot, going off the dribble or pulling up for long 3-pointers. He averages 35.3 points and is shooting 31 percent from the 3-point line.

Caitlyn McCrary

Siegel, Sr.

Sport: Softball

The Tennessee signee will be a four-year starter at third base for the Lady Stars this year. In 2018, she hit .458 with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs and scored 32 runs.

Alex and Gretchen Walsh

Harpeth Hall

Sport: Girls swimming

OK, we cheated. It’s hard to not pick both Harpeth Hall swimmers considering both set national records a season ago. Alex, a junior, set the national independent school record in the 100 breaststroke in last year’s state meet. Gretchen, a sophomore, set the national independent school record in the 50 freestyle.

Evan Woosley-Reed

Cascade, Fr.

Sport: Boys golf

Woosley-Reed has already committed to Tennessee, where his mom — Tiffany Woosley — was a standout for the Lady Vols on the basketball court. He shot 2-under in the Division I Small Class state tournament to finish second.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.
 

Published 7:00 AM EST Jan 10, 2019