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Photo Credit: Nick Smith/PrepsKC

Sunday at The McCarthy Auto Group Chevrolet store in Olathe The Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association honored 23 athletes at their annual Scholar Banquet.

Former University of Missouri All American tight end Chase Coffman was the featured speaker and 22 metro football players and a 12th Man Award Winner were honored and given $1,000 scholarships courtesy of the McCarthy Auto Group. This is the 15th year McCarthy has funded the schloarship program and in that time it has given $337,000 to scholar athletes in the Metro. 

Below are the athletes that earned this year's scholarships.

Michael Allen – Blue Valley
Michael has a 4.285 GPA and scored a 33 on the ACT. This past season he was a first team All-Eastern Kansas League and was the league's defensive player of the year. Michael was also named first team PrepsKC All-Metro and first team All-State. He also participated in baseball for the Tigers. Off the field he is in the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Debate and is a volunteer at the Community for Kids food pantry.

Sean Allerheiligen – Mill Valley
Sean has a 3.84 GPA and scored a 24 on the ACT. This past season he was All-Sunflower League and All-State helping the Jaguars to their third straight state championship. Sean has also participated in track and field. He was also chosen as a football captain his senior year. Off the field he has been on the honor roll, Head Master’s list and the Dean’s list. Sean has also volunteered at youth football camps and his church.

Holden Artzer – St. James Academy
Holden has a 4.3 GPA and scored a 25 on the ACT. He was first team All-EKL and first team All-State. Holden was a team captain and was on the football leadership council helping the Thunder to back-to-back state championships. He also participates in baseball. Off the field Holden is a member of the National Honor Society, a community captain for student council and a member of the Sons of Thunder. Holden has also been a youth basketball official, baseball umpire and volunteered at Prince of Peace Catholic Church.

Justis Braden – Liberty North
Justis has a 4.0 GPA and scored a 29 on the ACT. This past season he was All-Suburban Gold Conference, All-District and All-State helping the Eagles to their first ever appearance in the Missouri Class 6 State title game. Holden also plays basketball and is a member of the track and field team. Off the field he was named to the football Academic-All State team, earned an academic letter and volunteered at his church.

Tyler Claiborne – St. James Academy
Tyler has a 4.37 GPA and scored a 28 on his ACT. He was All-EKL, PrepsKC All-Metro and All-State. Tyler set seven school records and was a team captain on St. James’ back-to-back state championship teams. He also played basketball and is a member of the track and field team. In the classroom he is a member of the National Honor Society, earned the English Award and been on the Academic Honor Roll all four years.

Ty Clemens – Oak Park
Ty has a 4.48 GPA, is third in his class and scored a 30 on the ACT. This past season he was first team All-Suburban Red Conference, All-District and Academic-All State. Ty was a captain for the Northmen, the team MVP and set the school record for passing yards in a season. He also played basketball. Off the field Ty is a member of the National Honor Society, Principal’s Honor Roll and has earned three academic letters. Ty also was a Missouri Boys State Delegate, a High School Heisman winner and a member of his church’s youth group.

Kyle Connor – Grandview
Kyle has a 4.0 GPA, is third in his class and scored a 20 on his ACT. This past year he was All- Suburban Blue Conference, All-District, was a team captain and the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP. Off the field Kyle was named Academic-All State, earned an academic letter, is a member of the Principal’s Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society and a senior class officer. He has also earned the Nehemiah Service Award at his church and worked at the church’s food pantry.

Hayden Essex – Blue Valley
Hayden has a 3.51 GPA and scored a 25 on his ACT. This past season he was All-EKL, All-State, finalist for the Sports in Kansas Defensive Player of the year and has been selected for the Shrine Bowl. He also participates in track and field. Off the field Hayden has been on the honor roll every semester, is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of his church’s youth group and participated in mission work trips where he built and painted houses in several U.S. cities.

Ty Farrington – Blue Valley North
Ty has a 4.33 GPA and scored a 29 on the ACT. This past season he was a team captain and earned the Mr. Mustang Hammer Award for defense. Ty also participated in wrestling where he was a three-time state qualifier and two-time placer. Off the field he is a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Principal’s Honor Roll and a member of the Blue Valley District Student Athletic Council. Ty is also an Eagle Scout and a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity Re-Store.

Brody Fulk – Platte County
Brody has a 4.35 GPA, scored a 28 on the ACT and is in the top 10 of his class. This past season he was All-Suburban Blue Conference and played basketball and participated in track and field. Off the field Brody Academic-All State, is a member of the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, the Superintendent and Principal’s advisory committees and is a member of the Athletic Leadership team.

Alex Israelite – Blue Springs South
Alex has a 4.83 GPA, scored a 26 on the ACT and is 16th in his class. He was named All-Conference, All-District and was a captain for the Jaguars. Off the field he was Academic-All State, a National Honor Society officer, a member of DECA and is the student senate president.

Aidan Janatello – St. James Academy
Aiden has a 4.3 GPA and scored a 27 on the ACT. This past year he was named All-State and was a captain on the Thunder’s back-to-back state championship team. Aiden also participates in track and field. Off the field he has been on the honor roll all four years, is a member of the National Honor Society, participated in Johnson County Youth Court and Project Uplift and been a part of the Kansas City, Missouri Mission and Prayer and Action Mission trips.

Cale Johnson – Summit Christian Academy
Cale has a 4.0 GPA and scored a 29 on his ACT. This past season he was Crossroads-All Conference, All-District, All-State and a member of the KMZU Dream Team. Cale also played basketball for the Eagles. Off the field he is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Corner Fellow, is a math tutor, a four-time scholar athlete and member of the Principal’s Honor Roll. Cale also is an Eagle Scout and works with his church’s youth group.

Nicholas Karr – Raymore-Peculiar
Nicholas has a 4.4 GPA and scored a 31 on his ACT. This past season he was All-Conference and All-District. Nicholas also plays baseball. Off the field he was Academic All-State, is a member of the National Honor Society, AP Scholar, member of the student leadership team and has been named student of the Month. Nicholas is also a black belt in karate.

Collin Keeney – Bishop Miege
Collin has a 4.1 GPA and scored 23 on the ACT. This past season he was voted captain, was named All-EKL and earned the Bishop Miege Stag Award. Collin also participates in track and field. Off the field he is on the honor roll, a member of the National Student Leadership Conference, student council and a member of the National Honor Society.

Alexavier King – Olathe North
Alexavier has a 4.09 GPA and scored a 28 on the ACT. This past season he was named All-Sunflower League and All-State. He has also participated in wrestling. Off the field Alexavier has been on the honor roll for all seven semesters he has been at North and volunteered to feed the homeless with Hope Faith Ministries.

William Krzykowski – Olathe West
William has a 4.49 GPA, scored a 33 on the ACT and is ranked fifth in his class. This past season he was named West’s defensive player of the year, named a captain, was All-Sunflower League and All-State. William also plays baseball for the Owls. Off the field he has been on the honor roll all four years and earned awards from both science and math departments at West.

Heisman LaFave – Savannah
Heisman has a 4.868 GPA, scored a 25 on the ACT and is ranked first in his class. This past season he was named All-Midland Empire Conference, All-District, team captain and a member of the team leadership committee. He also plays baseball and basketball for Savannah. Off the field Heisman is a member of the National Honor Society, A+ program, student council, FBLA and DECA. He has also volunteered at the United Way, Living Community Senior Center, Junior League and Second Harvest of St. Joseph.

Andrew Mangold – Staley
Drew has a 4.0 GPA and scored a 24 on the ACT. This past season he was a captain for the Falcons and was named All-Suburban Red conference. Andrew also plays baseball and hockey. Off the field he has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll all seven semesters, earned two academic letters, participated in choir, theatre and debate and earned a Spanish Seal of Biliteracy.

Daniel McGurn – Staley
Daniel has a 4.0 GPA and scored 29 on the ACT. This past season he was All-Suburban Red Conference. While at Staley he also participated in track and field. Off the field he is a member of the student council, National Honor Society, Younglife, Scholar Bowl and theatre. Daniel is also in the A+ program earned an academic letter and named an AP Scholar with distinction.

Tucker Miller – Raymore-Peculiar
Tucker has a 4.03 GPA and scored a 26 on the ACT. This past season he was named All-Suburban Gold Conference, All-State, named a team captain and earned the Panther award from his team. He also played basketball and baseball. Off the field John was named Academic-All State three times, is a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Leadership Team, three academic letters and the Lamp of Learning award four times.

Jacob Stephens – Olathe West
Jacob has a 3.98 GPA and scored 29 on the ACT. This past season he was named All-Sunflower League, a captain, was a member of the football unity council and named the Owls most inspirational player. Jacob also plays baseball at Olathe West. Off the field he is a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, student council, Link Crew, Olathe West Leadership Squad and four-time community service award winner.

12th Man Abby Watson – Eudora
Abby has been a manager for the football team for four years while also playing basketball, softball and being a leader in the Special Olympics program. She also mentors students with special needs and is a member of several other clubs.