The honors continue to pour for recently graduated Bridgeport High Schools senior Emily Riggs. Riggs, a two-sport all-stater for the Indians, was recognized as Harrison County’s Athlete of the Year last week.

 

The award came Wednesday at the annual Exponent Telegram/BB&T Athlete of the Year Awards banquet. The event, one of the premier sports recognition gatherings in the state, was held at the Village Square Conference Center.

 

Riggs was a two-sports standout, and dominant at both. Her tabbing the top female award was the result of her winning the girls softball and basketball Athlete of the Year honors. Riggs helped get the girls hoops team back to Charleston and, although falling short in the regionals in softball, she had another banner year. In fact, Riggs was chosen for her fourth first-team all-state selection.

 

The standout initially signed to play Division I softball at Pitt. However, she changed her mind and will compete in college basketball next year at Fairmont State University.

 

Riggs wasn’t the only BHS student-athlete recognized during the event. Several students were named “Athlete of the Year” in their respective sports.

 

Cross country standout Jackson Jacobs earned the nod as the best in the sport for the county. The junior also was the top runner at the county meet and led his club to the state meet. Not surprisingly, senior Julia Muller was honored as well. Both Muller and her team took second place at the state meet.

 

In football, Jake Bowen captured the top honor. Bowen led the Indians back to the Class AA semifinals and finished his career as the Tribe’s all-time leading rusher in an 11-2 senior season.

 

In volleyball, it was the Tribe’s Kristen Crowder earning top honors. She not only led BHS to the Class AA state tournament but helped give the Indians their first state title ever in the sport.

 

The Bridgeport wrestling program’s continued success was rewarded at the banquet with two wrestlers sharing Athlete of the Year honors. Seniors Austin Gibson, who was a state champion in the 160-pound division, and Kavaughn Summers were selected. Summer, wrestling at 220, finished the year at 39-1.

 

Like Crowder, Bridgeport’s state title swim team earned a nod. Boys swimmer of the year went to Bruce Keener, who won and individual event and was part of a winning relay event in Morgantown. He was joined by the Tribe’s Olivia Urse bringing home the girls swimming honor. Just a freshman, she helped the Tribe to another big state meet showing with a second and third place individual finish at the state event.

 

The boys’ tennis honor went to the Tribe’s Ty Gandy. Gandy lost just twice this year and those individuals ended up winning the state title and finishing as the runner-up.

 

Not surprisingly, the girls track team that finished as the Class AA runner-up produced the girls track athlete of the year. Emily Meade won the honors as she took home a second and third place finish at Laidley Field in the hurdle events.

 

Bridgeport High School along with every school in the county had a scholar Athlete of the Year. Senior Kirstin George was the winner, as chosen by the administration at BHS.