Not once, but TWICE Byron Nelson’s Flickinger Named Gatorade Texas Player Of The Year by Steve Gamel
I
t’s one thing for an athlete to earn national recognition once in their high school career. But to do it twice?
That’s exactly what happened to Byron
so long,” Flickinger said in a video posted online by Northwest ISD. “To be named one of the best players is crazy; it really is an honor.”
What makes Flickinger’s story all the more impressive is that the last player The Lady Bobcats’ senior volleyball star to win the award twice in a row was her was named the Gatorade Texas Volleyball head coach, Brianne Barker-Groth, when Player of the Year for a second straight she played for Amarillo season on January 13, making her only the “It’s just really awesome in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Flickinger also took home third player to receive that it’s a coach and the MaxPreps.com National the honor twice. With the player combo. It never Player of the Year award honor, Flickinger is now happens that way. as well as the Dallas Morning in the running for the That’s a really cool stat.” News’ All-Area Player of the national award. Year award. She is also a The LSU signee led Byron Nelson to a first-team Under Armour All-American 50-2 record and a Class 6A state title in and a Texas Girls Coaches Association November. She capped her senior year all-state selection. with a staggering 797 kills, 813 digs, 60 “When I saw the tweet out there that she’s blocks, and 36 service aces. the first one since me to get it back-to“I’m really honored. I know so many girls back, it’s just like, it really is cool,” Barkerwho play in the state, personally, on my Groth said in the video. “I don’t think club team and girls I’ve played against for about that often, but it’s just so hard to do. Nelson outside hitter Paige Flickinger.
18 | 35 WEST | February 2020
It’s just really awesome that it’s a coach and player combo. It never happens that way. That’s a really cool stat.” Both the state and national Gatorade awards take into account athletic achievement as well as academic excellence and exemplary character. According to a Northwest ISD article, should Flickinger win the national award, it would be the second time a major U.S. organization would name her the top player in her sport when you include the same award she earned from MaxPreps. “I’m excited to head to LSU around June and start getting prepared during that time,” Paige told Northwest ISD. She plans to major in management information systems. “I’ve met [some of my LSU teammates], but I haven’t played volleyball with them yet. When I went on my official visit in October, I got to meet the team and the girls in my recruiting class personally. It was really fun, and I’m looking forward to playing with them.” www.35WestMagazine.com
