October 2023 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Athletes are selected as the Players of the Month for their athletic
accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact.
JACE
SEARS
LAKERS
FOOTBALL
ANNALISE
WEEDER
CROS-LEX
VOLLEYBALL
THROUGHOUT HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT
THE FIRST TIME CROSWELL-LEXINGTON
ELKTON-PIGEON BAY PORT, JAYCE SEARS HAS VOLLEYBALL COACH RYAN WILSON SAW ANNALISE
DEALT WITH HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS, WEEDER ON A VOLLEYBALL COURT, HE KNEW SHE
BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
WAS DESTINED FOR GREAT THINGS.
The senior has played a variety of roles for the Lakers “We saw the skill, ability and potential from Annalise
and currently serves as the team’s quarterback. But his when she was in our fifth and sixth grade program,” said
career has been a battle to stay on the field, as he has Wilson. “We kind of knew that she was going to be the
suffered shoulder injuries, which have required surgery. real deal even as early as that.”
When on the field, his talent, leadership and toughness Wilson’s prediction came true. Weeder will leave
are unquestioned. This season, Sears and the Lakers Cros-Lex as the best setter in program history. In August,
were tested after a pair of tough losses.
she broke the career record for assists and is at over
“That taught us some lessons,” said EPBP head coach 3,000 and counting.
Dave Levasseur. “Jayce, in that process, was learning “She’s put in a ton of work over the last eight years to
and working out his own bugs. In Week 3, he was be getting the recognition that she has now,” Wilson
starting to do things that he had been working on, said. “The biggest thing is she’s a really strong athlete,
on his own.”
above all else. She has a really calm demeanor, she’s an
He added: “You can describe his
excellent learner and makes great adjustments. Even at
mental toughness in one word
a younger age, she was able to process the game really
and that’s ‘Ubly’. He got his tail
well.”
kicked in that game. He just kept
He added: “When you have that kind of athleticism,
getting up. He’s mentally and
combined with that kind of intellect,
physically tough.”
she’s a natural. You can teach her
In the three games that
the technical stuff to make her
followed the loss to Ubly, Sears
even better. But you can’t teach
turned in some mindboggling
that athleticism.”
performances. He racked up 500
Wilson said Weeder is always
rushing yards (37 carries) and
willing to learn and accepts
eight touchdowns, completed
coaching very well.
17-of-25 passes for 276 yards
As her senior season winds down,
and two TDs, converted 14-of-15
Wilson reflected on what Weeder
extra points, booted a 26-yard
has meant to the program. “The
field goal, picked off three passes on defense (returning reality is, we have graduated some
one for a score), returned a punt for a touchdown and really strong players,” he said. “But
had seven touchbacks as a kicker.
there really hasn’t been anyone
“It’s his time,” LeVasseur said. “There’s a handful of quite like Annalise. She’s going
guys who are opportunists and you wonder how things to be an incredibly tough player
worked so well for them? They don’t work out well, to replace. Not only on the court, but just the kind of
they’re opportunists. When they see an opportunity, they personality and mentality that she has.”
take it and make it – and that’s Jayce.”
ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS
4 October 2023 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM
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