After leading the Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach football team to a record-setting season, junior quarterback Braden McCauley scored a record-setting vote total in being named the Mammy’s Kitchen Athlete of the Season award.
McCauley threw for more than 1,500 yards and tallied 24 touchdowns through the air and on the ground as the Saints posted their first winning season (6-5) and playoff berth in program history. He also collected more than 25,000 votes to run away with the top award for the fall sports season.
A trio of North Myrtle Beach athletes claimed the next three spots: cross country runner Breeauna Spickler, who helped the Lady Chiefs finish eighth in the state; volleyball player Sydney Bellamy, who led the Lady Chiefs to the Class 4A Lower State final; and football player Cason McClendon, another junior QB who took his team on a record-breaking season. The Chiefs started 12-0 for the first time in program history before falling in the third round of the playoffs.
McCauley’s teammate and primary target Jaylen Johnson rounded out the top five, followed by a pair of members of the St. James state champion girls golf team – Jordan White and Smith Knaffle, and St. James running back Deondray Stanfield. Myrtle Beach running back Jermani Green, Conway QB D’Wuan Grainger, Myrtle Beach state volleyball champion Gracie Davis, and Socastee tennis player Anna Brice Cox rounded out the field of Athele of the Week winners for the fall season.
– Photo by Joel Beachum