Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com
The Sports Ledger www.TheSportsLedger.com
PAGE 4B May 2026
Cherokee County's Griffth and Haygood Named Ledger Leaders
Cornerstone Christian Star Named Ledger Leader By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger Jaylee Brown has 2024 state championship basketball team. Jaylee is the 2026 Triple Jump State
been selected as a 2026 Ledger Leader. She is a three sport standout at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Rainsville and she has a 4.0 GPA. Jaylee competes in volleyball, softball and track and she is a state champion in all three. She helped the Cornerstone Christian volleyball team earn a state championship in 2025 and she was a member of the
Champion. She earned the 2026 Track MVP award and was the 2025 Track & Field MVP. In Volleyball she was named to the ACAA All-Star team and an All- tournament team in 2025. Outside of school Jaylee works at her church and has been on several mission trips. She has also helped with VBS and other community projects.
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger The 2026 Ledger Leaders from Cherokee County High School, represent four different athletic programs. Adam Griffith plays both baseball and football, while junior classmate Ava Haygood competes in both volleyball and soccer. In baseball, Adam has earned All-County Honors and the Iron Warrior Award. He is also an All- County football player. Adam has a100.705 GPA and is a member of the Beta Club, Leo Club, and FCA. He has also worked with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters. Ava has a 99.75 GPA and is a member of the Beta Club, Leo Club, and FCA. She has earned numerous volleyball honors including All- County, All-Area and All-State. Ava was named the MVP of the Area Tournament and a member of the AHSAA All- State Tournament Team. Additionally, she was selected to play for the North All-Star Volleyball Team. In soccer, Ava has earned the Golden Boot award. She was also named offensive MVP and First Team All-State. Ava was in position to earn additional awards following the 2026 season, which was still ongoing at the time of the Ledger Leader award deadline.
Jaylee Brown
FPHS Ledger Leaders Find Time To Help In Community
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Adam Griffith
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger Finding a
balance
between academics, athletics and community service might be difficult for some folks, but not for the 2026 Ledger Leaders from Fort Payne High School. Lydie Varnadore and Grayson Hester are both standout FPHS students with a 4.4 GPA, both play multiple sports, and the junior class duo has combined for 165 hours of community service through the Key Club. Lydia has over 95 hours of community service with the Key Club. Additionally, she is a member of Fort Payne High School Student Council, member of SADD, active member of Peer Helpers, and a member of Diamond Dolls. When she is not volunteering or participating in school clubs, Lydia competes in both Volleyball and Track & Field. Her primary sport is volleyball, and she has already committed to playing collegiately for the University of South Alabama. Some of her volleyball accomplishments include 1000 Career Digs, 1500 Career Kills, 2026 LOVB Club Player of the Month, AVCA 2025 Phenom Watchlist, 2025 Class 6A AL.com First Team All- State, 2025 AHSVCA 2nd Team All-State, 2025 Times Journal Player of the Year, 2025 Area Champs, 2025 State Leader for Kills / 60th in the Nation, 2023 Area Champs, 2023 Elite Eight, North-South All-Star Game Participant, and Area All- Tournament Team in 2024 and 2025. In Track and Field, Lydia’s accomplishments include being a four event state qualifier (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), 2026 Class 1-7A State Indoor Track Pentathlon Runner-up, 2026 6A State Indoor Track 4x400 Relay 3rd Place, 2025 Class 1-7A State Track and Field Heptathlon 3rd place, 2025 6A State Outdoor Track and Field Runner up-300m hurdles, 2025 6A State Outdoor Track and Field Runner up-100m hurdles, 2025 6A State Indoor Track Runner- up 60m hurdles, 2025 6A State Indoor Track Third Place High Jump, 2025 6A State Indoor Track Girls Team 3rd place, 2024 6A State Outdoor Track and Field Girls Team Runner- up, and Class 6A Girls Team Sectionals First Place for four years (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).
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Lydia Varnadore
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Ava Haygood
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Submitted Photo
Grayson Hester
Grayson is a three- sport standout at Fort Payne. He has competed in football, wrestling, and baseball. In football he earned a Varsity Letter, First Team All-Region in Class 6A (2025-2026), Honorable Mention All-State, All CM Gridiron Team (2025-2026), and the Times Journal First Team Offensive Line award (2025-2026). Grayson has a Varsity Letter (2023-Present) in Wrestling. His other accomplishments include AHSAA State Qualifier (2025, 2026), Most Pins Award (2024-Present), AHSAA State 4th Place Finisher, and the Wildcat Legacy Award (2025-2026).
Additionally, he earned a Junior Varsity Baseball Letter in 2023- 2024. Outside of athletics he has over 70 hours of community service with the Key Club. Grayson has helped with VFW set up and Comfort Closet. He also volunteered his time to help with a Wrestling Youth Tournament, Pre-K playground mulch distribution, and a Field Day. Grayson is a member of FUMY Church Youth Group, where he has helped with Christmas presents for underprivileged, served as a Halloween festival volunteer for kids, and as a Youth Leader.
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