Across TSSAA athletics, the true standard-bearers are not only the highest scorers or fastest runners. They are the student-athletes who honor opponents, lift teammates, serve quietly, persevere through hardship, and lead by example. Their actions reflect the heart of education-based athletics: competition that builds character, respect, and community.
During the 2025-26 school year, TSSAA and the NFHS presented the NFHS Student-Athlete Award of Excellence to more than 250 students across all grade levels for excellence in sportsmanship, integrity and ethics.
Here's a glimpse at a few of the students honored in Spring 2026 for representing their schools and communities the way TSSAA member schools hopes every student-athlete will. The spirit of sport stays alive when we retell their stories, model their conduct, and make sportsmanship a daily habit.
Ace Matthews (Donelson Middle School)
Ace Matthews has asthma, but when Donelson’s starting running back left a tight fourth-quarter game with a leg injury, he refused to leave the field. He took every carry the rest of the way while also playing every defensive snap. Ace fought through his own hardship and helped lead his team to victory.
Abe Soucy (Providence Christian Academy)
Abe was on pace for real varsity minutes as a freshman when he tore his ACL and endured setback after setback. Instead of wavering, he kept working, remained an outstanding teammate, and became a leader. His impact was so clear that he was voted onto the team’s Captains Council.
Karlos Ransom II (Kenwood High School)
Karlos is known for encouraging opponents after matches, but two moments stand out. After beating a fellow senior and ending his state tournament hopes, Karlos took time to console and encourage him. At the state tournament, he kept encouraging athletes from other teams even after he was eliminated.
Jenna Joyce (Trinity Christian Academy)
Jenna is a fierce competitor, but she also knew when a younger player had earned her starting spot and told the coach so. Rather than settling, she worked to earn it back—and did. She gives whatever the team needs, especially as a tenacious defender who takes charges and dives for loose balls.
London Trosclair (Maury Middle School)
London couldn’t participate in track & field her 8th grade year, but she still wanted to serve the team. She became the official scorer for all home meets, running Meet Manager so results posted live on Mile Split. She also arrived early to set up and stayed late to clean up without being asked.
Zaniyah Battle (Donelson Middle School)
Zaniyah helped lead Donelson’s first girls flag football team through a brutal early season. On a cold, rainy, windy day when the girls could have given up, she kept them grounded through eight overtimes. Her voice and leadership helped them fight to a tie instead of folding.
Landon Nichols (Anderson County High School)
Landon Nichols is a team-first competitor who treats teammates and opponents with respect. During competition, if he knocks a player to the ground, he immediately offers a hand and checks on them. That small repeated action shows the sportsmanship valued in TSSAA athletics.
Awards and certificates do not create character; they celebrate it. They are a way to remind us what we value—sportsmanship, integrity, leadership, service, and perseverance—and they give us a moment to say that the quiet, unseen acts matter just as much as the scoreboard.
Nominate a student in your school today! Please use the form linked below to share a story about a student-athlete you know who has demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, integrity, and ethics. If you have any questions about the award or the nomination process, please contact Courtney Brunetz (cbrunetz@tssaa.org).
