BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Nigel Clance and Ben Ulsch, both representing Keystone Heights High School, received individual awards at the annual Clay County Athletics Awards Show, which was held May 13 at Orange Park’s Thrasher-Horne Center.
Keystone Boys Weightlifting Coach Lantz Lowery was also presented with the 2022-23 Florida Coach of the Year Award (see related story).
Clance, who is autistic, was the recipient of a newly created Inspirational Achievement Award, which was presented to a total of seven Clay County students for their participation in the Special Olympics.
Clay County Schools Chief of Secondary Education Treasure Pickett presented the awards, saying, “These remarkable individuals embody the true essence of sportsmanship, determination and resilience. They remind us that success is not solely measured by victories on the field, but by the courage to face challenges with unwavering resolve and the determination to always strive for personal bests.”
The Carrie Underwood song “The Champion” was played while Clance took to the stage with his fellow honorees: Frederick Armstead of Oakleaf, Amos Burney of Middleburg, Adelaide Gasbarro of Fleming Island, Jeremiah Jewell of Clay, Nicholas Santana of Orange Park and Bailey Reese of Ridgeview.
“Award winners have touched our hearts with their unwavering positivity, their unwavering commitment to excellence and their unwavering support for each other,” Pickett said. “They have shown us the power of sports to unite, uplift and inspire. Each of our winners has made a profound impact on their schools, fostering an environment of inclusion, kindness and encouragement. Their dedication to their sport, their teammates and their community serves as a beacon of inspiration for us all.”
Ulsch was one of seven Clay County student-athletes to receive Hero Awards, joining Peyton Coultis of Fleming Island, Avery Garcia of Oakleaf, Lily Kalil of Clay, Carley Nicholas of Orange Park, Robert Piccirillo of Middleburg and Hannah Smith of Ridgeview.
Clay High School Principal Jen Halter, who presented the awards, said people are faced with obstacles daily, but “the gamechanger” is how people react to, adapt to and overcome those obstacles.
With that in mind, she said Ulsch and fellow honorees “are truly heroes.”
“They have overcome significant obstacles in their lives this school year and have pushed through and never quit under very difficult circumstances to achieve greatness,” Halter said. “They are true inspirations.”
Ulsch suffered a knee injury that prevented him from playing football for most of his junior year and the entirety of his senior year. However, after two surgeries and rehabilitation, he was able to compete in weightlifting this past season. He won district championships in both traditional and Olympic, was the traditional champ and Olympic runner-up at the regional level and earned medals at the state finals with two third-place finishes.
It was the second straight year Ulsch earned individual honors at the Clay awards show. He received the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Character Award (for recognition as a generous giver, faithful friend, committed encourager and forgiving teammate) at last year’s event.
Ulsch’s brother Sam, a 2023 KHHS graduate, received a Hero Award at last year’s awards show.
Ben, Sam and their four brothers lost their parents, Josh and Holly, to a 2018 traffic crash.
All-Clay County
Besides those receiving individual awards, Clay student-athletes who earned All-Clay County honors were also recognized.
Keystone had the following receive All-Clay County honors in the 2023-24 year:
—Football: Cartez Daniels (first team), Garrison Teague (first team), Jackson Herman (second team), Bryce Hollingsworth (second team), Wyatt Van Zant (second team), Connor Guy (honorable mention) and Tyler Sapp (honorable mention).
—Boys cross country: Tyler Griffin (second team) and Ryder Thomas (honorable mention).
—Girls cross country: Olivia Griffin (first team).
—Boys golf: Alex Addington (second team) and Connor Guy (second team).
—Boys basketball: Darrion Grady (honorable mention) and Garrison Teague (honorable mention).
—Girls basketball: Alana Anderson (honorable mention).
—Boys soccer: Aaron Wiley (first team), Luke Brunt (second team) and Bryce Huntley (honorable mention).
—Girls soccer: Kiersten Shaw (first team).
—Boys weightlifting (traditional): Tyson Baxter (first team), Jayden Goodman (first team), Trey Jeffries (first team), Wyatt Van Zant (first team), Tyler Duncan (second team), Brayden Hall (second team), Ben Ulsch (second team), Bryson Wester (second team), Davin Adams (honorable mention), Jed Tisdale (honorable mention) and Layton Wright (honorable mention).
—Boys weightlifting (Olympic): Jayden Goodman (first team), Trey Jeffries (first team), Jed Tisdale (first team), Wyatt Van Zant (first team), Jackson Herman (second team), Ben Ulsch (second team), Tyler Duncan (honorable mention), Colton Hollingsworth (honorable mention), Bryson Wester (honorable mention) and Layton Wright (honorable mention).
—Baseball: Connor Guy (first team), Austin Musgrove (first team), Gage Barry (honorable mention) and Austin Smith (honorable mention).
—Softball: Ashley Nugent (first team), Kadence Massey (second team), Abbie Roach (second team), Caitlin Frampton (honorable mention) and Delia Johnson (honorable mention).
—Flag football: Alana Brown (honorable mention), Ashlyn Brown (honorable mention) and Alee Horton (honorable mention).
—Boys tennis: Will Begue (honorable mention) and Ethan Teague (honorable mention).
—Girls tennis: Whitnee Buchanan (honorable mention).
