A Cherokee County School District Class of 2022 graduate has been named a Gatorade Player of the Year!

Will Sumner, who graduated last month from Woodstock High School and is headed to the University of Georgia in the fall, today was named the 2021-22 Gatorade Georgia Boys Track & Field Player of the Year.  He is the school’s first Gatorade Georgia Boys Track & Field Player of the Year and now advances to Gatorade’s national competition.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also “high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.”

Among Will’s honors have been winning the 400-meter dash at Georgia’s Class 7A state meet with a personal best time of 45.78, setting a new state record in the event and leading Woodstock’s team, which is coached by Wakely Louis and Josh Weaver, to win the 4x800 meter relay and fourth place overall.  Winner of the 400 at the BrooksPR Invitational, Will’s personal best time in the 800-meter event this spring was No. 2 in the nation, No. 3 in U.S. prep history and only 0.08 seconds behind the national record!

Beyond his amazing athletic successes, Will graduated with a 3.78 GPA, is a classical pianist and also served as a volunteer coach for the middle school track program and as a member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory council.

“We’re incredibly proud of Will for all he’s accomplished during his time with us as scholar athlete and we can’t wait to see what he achieves next,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “I’ve watched Will win in competition many times, and he’s inspiring to all runners, including myself.  What’s the most inspiring to me is that he invests his time in mentoring younger runners, which speaks to his exceptional character.  Congratulations and best wishes!”
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