'Ultimate teammate': Meet 25 of Washington County's winter sports unsung heroes

In sports, the focus of fans and media is often on the stars. They are the players who pass or run for the most yards and touchdowns, score the most points or goals, hit the most home runs or for the highest average. They receive the bulk of the attention and headlines.

With that in mind, I asked Washington County's winter sports varsity head coaches one question: Who is your team's unsung hero? Who usually doesn't get the attention or headlines, but is invaluable to your team in ways that don't always show up in the box score?

Seth Aliveto, Saint James boys basketball

Coach Kevin Breslin: "Seth is a junior who might not lead us in any statistical categories, but he does everything he is asked to do to the best of his abilities. At 5-foot-11, he routinely fills in for our team at every position on the court and defends the toughest matchups most games."

Maverick Bonnes, Williamsport boys indoor track and field

Coach Erin Minnick: "When it comes down to it, Maverick is always where we need him to be, when we need him to be there. He's been such a great example for the other athletes on the team."

Max Bono, Smithsburg boys basketball

Coach Eric Gerber: "As the only returning player who got significant minutes from the team last year, Max was set to be the focal point of our squad this year. When we were lucky enough to have four of our local district guys return from private school, Max's role on the team changed drastically. He has provided great leadership and been a steadying influence on a very young team as we have transitioned to a different style of play. He has also shot incredibly well from 3-point range thus far this year."

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Joanna Bowman, Williamsport girls indoor track and field

Coach Erin Minnick: "Joanna's one we can always rely on to step up when it's needed. We never have to ask her twice to do anything."

Rizzo Chapin, North Hagerstown girls indoor track and field

Coach Ethan Miller: "Rizzo is the ultimate teammate and training partner. She has that special knack to teach the subtleties of her event and helps everyone around her improve."

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Landon Downie, Grace Academy boys basketball

Athletic director Zack Morgan: "Landon is pure heart and hustle, which every basketball team needs! Landon leads by his ability to give his best, but also has become a 'coach of minds,' as you can usually see him during games talking to and through situations with teammates."

Brycen Fraley, Williamsport wrestling

Coach Mike Rechtorovic: "Brycen is a senior who has an incredible work ethic and has wrestled anywhere the team needs him over the past two years, wrestling in weight classes ranging from 182 pounds to 285. Two years ago as a sophomore, Brycen started the season weighing over 295 pounds, and at one point lost well over 100 pounds wrestling at 182 last year.

Sarah Frushour, Boonsboro girls indoor track and field

Coach Randy Lohman: "Sarah is a senior who strives to improve her performance. She is one of the leaders on the team and an excellent role model."

Sage Haller, Boonsboro girls basketball

Coach Jerica Wetzel: "The senior brings a ton of energy to the court and (was) averaging 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2 assists a game."

Jillian Harper, Grace Academy girls basketball

Athletic director Zack Morgan: "Jillian has been a constant staple in every starting lineup at Grace. She is one who always give her best, loves her teammates and does what is required of her. She has been a key piece to our success for each of the volleyball, basketball and soccer programs."

Ethan Hill, Hancock boys basketball

Coach Edwin Morris: "Ethan is an undersized forward who acts as our Swiss Army knife. He battles for the boards, makes the extra pass to teammates and leads the team in taking charges."

Cole Horst, Heritage boys basketball

Coach Mike Kidd: "Cole is a three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball and baseball. Cole’s been a very valuable team player who has been a big part of the success the basketball program has had the past few years. He’s a solid contributor you can count on every day.”

Leah Howe, Smithsburg girls indoor track and field

Coach Adam Rudy: "Leah works incredibly hard every day, has seen incredible improvement over her three years in the program and is an absolutely phenomenal teammate. She is supportive and the ultimate team player."

Laurel Hudson, Williamsport girls basketball

Coach Kevin Murphy: "Laurel's a 5-foot-5 senior who does a lot of little things that go unnoticed in a box score. She's an extremely hard worker and plays with so much energy and enthusiasm that it rubs off on our team. She leads our team in steals, is second in scoring, fourth in rebounds and leads us in one of the most old school of categories that coaches love: Picking up charges! She's picked up eight on the year, and once she started picking them up, several other girls followed suit. Kids like Laurel who work hard and play with energy help set the tone for you every day in practice."

Nate Ingram, Boonsboro boys indoor track and field

Coach Randy Lohman: "Nate is a very motivated junior. He shows up to practice every day, does his best and strives to improve."

Cole Jesson, Clear Spring boys basketball

Coach John Hutzell: "He is a freshman on our varsity team, and even though we were not able to field a JV team, he has taken every advantage to get better and taken advantage of every opportunity that he has had in practices and games. He recently just began to start, and he is one of the kids who flies all over the place getting loose balls, rebounds, sprinting the floor and just working as hard as he possibly can to give us any advantage. He’s not our top rebounder, he’s not our leading scorer, but he plays heavy (minutes) for us where needed. He puts his body in harm's way, and he’s just a great all-around kid who hustles and works his butt off."

Madasyn Knox, South Hagerstown girls basketball

Coach Vanity Jones: "Whether Maddie starts or is the spark off the bench, she always comes ready to work hard. She is selfless and puts the success of her team above her own. What Maddie brings to our team is priceless."

Maren McFarland, Smithsburg girls basketball

Coach Todd Bono: "Despite her size (5-foot-2), Maren is fearless when it comes to driving the lane, defending and rebounding in the paint, diving for loose balls and taking charges. She is the ultimate team player, a great teammate and leader."

Camilo Mellott, Smithsburg boys track and field

Coach Adam Rudy: "He's the definition of coachable. He is dependable, hard-working and willing to do whatever it takes to help our team be successful. Simply put, I would love to have a dozen more athletes exactly like him."

Kalie Mitchell, Clear Spring girls basketball

Coach Corey Alkire: "She shows up for practice, summer workouts and weightlifting. She always tries her best and is a great teammate."

Zack Molloy, Saint James wrestling

Coach Steve Lachut: "Zack is a senior captain who achieves success on the mat, but often does so quietly. He exemplifies the values of any good athlete: Hard work, integrity, loyalty and leadership, among many others. Zack is always one of the hardest workers (if not the hardest) in practice, which sets the tone for the whole team but is not always noticed by outsiders."

Keyan Proctor, St. Maria Goretti boys basketball

Coach Sid McCray: "Keyan is a great young man who works extremely hard on and off the court. He had the opportunity to leave Goretti when many others in his class did, once the news was out about Goretti closing. Instead, he committed to finishing his junior year at Goretti. Keyan has stepped up in a major way with the team this year. He is a great teammate and a great young man. Keyan has helped a lot of the new students settle into their roles on the team as well as step up in his own role."

Peyton Schnebly, St. Maria Goretti girls basketball

Coach Charles Burnett: "She's a straight-A student with a high basketball IQ who gives 110 percent in every drill druing every practice. She's extremely coachable and just a joy in every facet to have on the team."

Graham Snyder, North Hagerstown boys indoor track and field

Coach Ethan Miller: "Graham is the definition of a lead-by-example senior, and he is an extension of the coaches in terms of leadership. He's an athlete who every coach would love to teach and any teammate would love to have."

Camari White, Broadfording boys basketball

Coach Brandon Monroe: "(He's) the vocal leader on our team. I can can count on him to give 110% every time he steps on the court."

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County winter sports unsung heroes